Jean Leon Gerome Ferris

Jean Leon Gerome Ferris studied at Académie Julian and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Training under William-Adolphe Bouguereau is recorded. The field of work recorded is painting. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are history and Orientalism. Christian Schussele and Jean-Léon Gérôme are recorded as an influence. Works named in the authority record are The Fall of New Amsterdam. Work by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris is recorded in the collections of Smithsonian American Art Museum, Reading Public Museum and Print Collection.

• Name — Jean Leon Gerome Ferris • Born — 8 August 1863 • Birthplace — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. • Died — 18 March 1930 • Place of death — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. • Known for — Painting • Training — Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts • Illustration — Writing the Declaration of Independence, 1776, Ferris' 1900 depiction of (left to right) Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson of the Committee of Five working on the Declaration of Independence; the depiction was widely reprinted. • Illustration — The Landing of William Penn, Ferris' portrait depicting the New Castle, Delaware landing by William Penn, the founder of the Province of Pennsylvania

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ferris was the son of Stephen James Ferris (1835-1915): a portrait painter who was a devotee of Jean-Léon Gérôme (his teacher after whom he was named), and also an admirer of Mariano Fortuny. He grew up around art; he was trained by his father and his uncles Edward Moran and Thomas Moran were both acclaimed painters. Ferris enrolled in the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1879 and trained further at the Académie Julian beginning in 1883 under William-Adolphe Bouguereau. He also met his namesake Jean-Léon Gérôme, who greatly influenced his decision to paint scenes from American history. Ferris wrote, "[Gérôme's] axiom was that one would paint best that with which he is most familiar".

His early subjects were Orientalist in nature since that movement was in vogue when he was young. In 1882, he exhibited a painting entitled Feeding the Ibis which was valued at $600. By 1895, he had gained a reputation as a historical painter, and he embarked on his dream of creating a series of paintings that told a historical narrative. In 1898, he sold General Howe's Levee, 1777, but he later realized that such a series could not be complete if the separate paintings could not be kept together. Consequently, he never sold another, but he did sell the reproduction rights to various publishing companies. This had the effect of greatly popularizing his work, as these companies made prints, postcards, calendars, and blank-backed trade cards to use in advertisements. Laminated cards of these works were still being sold as late as 1984.

Ferris married Annette Amelia Ryder in 1894, and the couple had a daughter named Elizabeth Mary. He died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1930 at age 66.

The authorities additionally record the headings G. Ferris, Jean Leon G. Ferris, Jean Leon Jerome Ferris and J.L.G. He was the child of Stephen James Ferris and Elizabeth Anastasia Moran.