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Ernest Lee Major (1864-1950) “Still Life with Lilies”
oil on canvas, 34” x 28”, signed upper right,
sold to benefit a Southern institution, original label verso

Artist Biography

Ernest Lee Major (1864-1950)

Born/lived: Washington, DC; Alexandria, VA; Boston, MA; Paris

Known: Major was among the leaders of the Boston School of artists. He was a classical academician, teacher and painter of portraits, genre, still-lifes, and landscapes. He was only slightly influenced by French impressionism. Major spent most of his non-teaching hours at the famous Fenway Studios in Boston, while during the summers he worked en plein air at Tamworth, New Hampshire. Major’s charming style offended no one and pleased many as his work was colorfully dramatic and uniquely decorative. Major also excelled in the medium of pastel.

Studied: Arts Students League under William Merritt Chase; Academie Julian, Paris with Boulanger and Lefebvre; the Corcoran Gallery of Art under E. C. Messer.

Member: Boston Art Club; Boston Guild of Artists.

Exhibited: Paris Salon; Art Institute of Chicago; the Jordan Marsh Art Gallery; Boston Art Club; Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art; Corcoran Gallery; Pan-Pac Expo, San Francisco; National Academy of Design; World’s Columbian Exposition.

Awards: was the first to win the Hallgarten Art Scholarship, which at that time included travel expenses for study in Europe; Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, Major was awarded a silver medal; the Bok Prize from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art.

Taught: Cowles School of Art; Boston Museum of Fine Art School; Normal Art School, MA where Robert Vonnoh studied; the Massachusetts School of Art.

Work: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Painting Features

Artist First Name Ernest Lee
Artist Last Name Major
Artist's Dates (1864-1950)
Materials oil on canvas
Markings signed upper right sold to benefit a Southern institution, original label verso
Size 34” x 28”
Price contact gallery
Comments This painting is excellent condition.