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Jacob Eichholtz (1776-1842)


Catherine Cane (Mrs. John Diffenderffer), by Jacob Eichholtz, 1833. Oil on canvas. 35 29/32 x 27 27/32 in. (91.2 x 70.7 cm). Maryland Historical Society, Accession: 1988-42-2.
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Lavallin Barry, Jr., by Jacob Eichholtz, c. 1815. Oil on canvas. 9 21/64 x 7 51/64 in. (23.7 x 19.8 cm). Maryland Historical Society, Accession: 1977-70-2.
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Lady of the Toy or Honeywell Family, by Jacob Eichholtz, c. 1820. Oil on canvas. 30 5/64 x 25 13/64 in. (76.4 x 64.0 cm.) Maryland Historical Society, City Life Museums Collection, Accession: MA8569B.
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Medium/Discipline: Painting
Birthplace: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Place of Death: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Maryland Affiliation: Active while in residence
Prominent Theme: Portraits
Gender: Male
Race/Ethnicity: White
Biography: Jacob Eichholtz was born and died in Lancaster, Pa. where he pursued the careers of sign painting and copper-smithing; he practiced at portrait painting in his spare time. In 1809, renowned portraitist Thomas Sully visited Lancaster and exchanged with Eichholtz art training and a couple of brushes for use of studio space.

Eichholtz then went to Boston to train with Gilbert Stuart, and afterwards opened a studio in Philadelphia. He visited Baltimore often and completed a number of individual and group portraits while in Maryland during 1820-1. He painted over 900 works in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. Scholar Jean Woods writes that, "The Star of Federalism newspaper in Frederick, Maryland, carried news of the marriage of Catherine Trissler to 'Mr. J. Eicholtz [sic], the celebrated self taught limner." She adds that, in 1820, Eichholtz, Rembrandt Peale and Thomas Sully were painting portraits in Baltimore at $30 apiece on average.
Taught By: Thomas Sully; Gilbert Stuart
Art-related Employment: sign painter; painter
Other Employment: coppersmith
Selected References: Pleasants, J. Hall. Two Hundred and Fifty Years of Painting in Maryland (Baltimore: Baltimore Museum of Art), 1945.
Woods, Jean. Celebrating 350 Years: Nineteenth-Century Maryland Artists. (Hagerstown: Washington County Museum of Fine Arts exhibition April 1-29), 1984.
Maryland Institutions Holding Artworks: Maryland Historical Society

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