Frederick Warren Freer

Frederick Warren Freer (June 16, 1849 – March 7, 1908) was an American painter from Kennicott Grove, Illinois, who was especially known for his skill in portraying female subjects. The son of a physician, Freer studied art instead of medicine after going partially deaf when he was fourteen. After he graduated from high school in Chicago, Freer's family relocated to Munich, where Freer studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts under multiple well-known artists. He returned to Chicago in 1871 before travelling to San Luis Potosí, Munich, Paris, the Netherlands, and Italy; in 1880, he moved to New York City. During this time, he extensively exhibited his work across the United States, a practice he would continue for the rest of his career. He also married Margaret Cecilia Keenan, who frequently modelled for his works. Freer's work started to attract attention near the end of the 1880s, particularly 1887's Lady in Black, and he received multiple awards for his work in the following years. He became particularly known for his ability to portray female subjects. In 1892, the Art Institute of Chicago employed him as an instructor, a role he performed for sixteen years. He died of a heart attack in 1908; his wife donated all of the works that he had left to the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, where many continue to be displayed. Throughout his career, Freer demonstrated versatility, moving back and forth between a number of styles. Leaning on his education in Munich, he began by depicting well-lit subjects with dark clothing and surroundings; he later incorporated a wider range of colors in his work and even dabbled with Impressionist techniques. He also experimented with watercolor and etching in addition to traditional painting.