Allston as a boy showed unusual ability for drawing, and he was fortunate in finding in Newport two friends to assist and encourage him. In particular there was a boy named Malbone, two years his senior, who was already beginning to paint miniatures, and in after years became known as Edward G. Malbone, a famous painter of portraits. The friendship with Malbone had much influence on Allston’s nature. They remained good friends through life, and gave to each other and took from each other the riches of sympathy and understanding that lie in an art kinship.
At college Allston showed himself a genuine boy, full of animal spirits. He joined in college pranks, and got the most that college life could give in fun and friendship. He was in short a radiant young man, graceful, handsome, with blue eyes, silky black hair, and pale, clear complexion. He was liked and honored by all his fellow students, cordial to all, yet with a certain aristocratic distinction that marked him as one of finer nature. He loved not art alone, but literature and romance. His verses were creditable, and brought him the honor of being elected class poet.
He graduated at Harvard in 1800, and for awhile studied art in Charlestown with Malbone. In 1801 Allston went to London with Malbone. He entered the Royal Academy, and became a pupil of West. Allston admired West enthusiastically, and got from him not only instruction but inspiration. From 1804 until 1809 Allston was a traveler in Europe, spending part of the time in Paris and part in Italy, and when he returned to his native country in 1809 he had already established himself among the painters of his day.
From 1811 until 1817 he lived and worked in England, and when there he came to realize his full powers. He had developed greatly, not only in artistic and poetic fields, but in religious convictions. And not only in painting but in writing he showed great ability. Coleridge, who was for years a close friend, pronounced him a leader in the art and thought of his time.
Allston was elected an associate of the Royal Academy in 1819, after having just returned to America. He spent the remaining years of his life in Boston and in Cambridge, where he died in July, 1843. His paintings are to be seen in a number of the prominent galleries of this country and England. The most celebrated of them are religious in nature.
PREPARED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION
ILLUSTRATION FOR THE MENTOR, VOL. 1. No. 45, SERIAL No. 45
COPYRIGHT, 1913, BY THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION