Object: Susquehanna Shad, Oil on Canvas, by Andrew John Henry Way
Dimensions: Width 25in Height 30in
Maker: signed LR, A.J. H. Way, (1826 – 1888)
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Date: 1880
Commentary: By 1880 when Andrew Way exhibited Susquehanna Shade at the Louisville Industrial Exposition, he was fully established and recognized as Baltimore’s most prominent still life artist. Most famous today for his much smaller, highly detailed depictions of grapes, a subject in which he specialized, and table top groupings of gastronomic delicacies, Way frequently worked on much larger canvases featuring game birds or fish. Clearly, the artist’s choice of this particular work for display at the Exposition suggests that he considered Susquehanna Shad to be among his most successful paintings. More recently, this painting has been exhibited at the Morris Museum, Augusta GA and the Washington County (Maryland) Museum of Fine Art.
Born in Washington D.C., Way studied art in Paris, Florence and in Baltimore with Alfred J. Miller, which he eventually made his permanent residence. According to one biography, Way pursued a variety of subjects including portraits until 1859 when Emanuel Leutze was so impressed by a still life exhibited by Way that he encouraged the artist to devote himself to the form as his specialty. Way exhibited at the National Academy of Design, the Brooklyn Art Association and his works earned him medals at the Centennial Exhibition of 1876. He was a founder of the Maryland Academy of Fine Arts and the Charcoal Club of Baltimore.
Condition: Painting is in excellent condition and has been professionally lined. It was composed in a 24″ x 30″ oval format on a rectangular stretcher.
