Elbridge Ayer Burbank

1858 – 1949

Elbridge Ayer Burbank

BORN IN

Harvard, Illinois

KNOWN FOR

Indian portrait and still life painting

NAME VARIATIONS

E A Burbank, Eldridge Ayer Burbank

Born in Harvard, Illinois, Elbridge Ayer  (E.A.) Burbank became a portrait painter of Indian chiefs, leaving a rich historical legacy.

He graduated from the Chicago Art Academy and then, working from a studio in St. Paul, Minnesota, painted scenery for Northwest Magazine to inspire homesteading along the railway line of the Northern Pacific.  This job took him West to the Rocky Mountains, Idaho, Washington, and Montana.

 In 1887 and 1889 to 1891, he studied art in Munich, Germany, and there became friends with artists Joseph Henry Sharp, William R. Leigh and Toby Rosenthal. In 1894, Burbank became an American citizen, and graduated from the Chicago Art Institute where he was invited to stay and teach.

Burbank traveled west to Ganado, Arizona, met trading post owner Lorenzo Hubbell who became a life-long friend. During his western trips, he painted over 2000 portraits of Indians from 125 tribes: 1000 were oil portraits and 1200 were with Conte Crayon. He was one of the few artists to use crayon as a medium for portraits and was the only artist to paint Geronimo from life, and he also painted Red Cloud and Chief Joseph.

Sold At Lone Star Art Auction

Elbridge Ayer Burbank – Chief Joseph, Nez Perces
Elbridge Ayer Burbank
(1858 – 1949)

Chief Joseph, Nez Perces

, 1898
oil on canvas laid on board
11.5 x 9.5 inches
Sold for: $12,000
Elbridge Ayer Burbank – Chief Red Cloud, Sioux
Elbridge Ayer Burbank
(1858 – 1949)

Chief Red Cloud, Sioux

, 1899
oil on canvas laid on board
12 x 10 inches
Sold for: $5,000
Elbridge Ayer Burbank – Shield, Sioux
Elbridge Ayer Burbank
(1858 – 1949)

Shield, Sioux

, 1899
oil on canvas
13 x 9 inches
Sold for: $10,800
Elbridge Ayer Burbank – Oraibi, Ariz.
Elbridge Ayer Burbank
(1858 – 1949)

Oraibi, Ariz.

, 1902
oil on linen
22.75 x 14 inches
Sold for: $5,100