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Davisson, Homer G.
"Homer Davisson Studio" Daniel Baker on flickr Taken March 11, 2016
This little building was once upon a time the art studio to Homer Davisson. Born in Henry County, Indiana in 1866, Davisson studied art at Depauw University, and found his passion for landscape painting. He left prior to graduation to attend Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and several other art schools before venturing overseas for several years painting in Europe. He returned to Indiana around 1910 and made Fort Wayne his home. Davisson split his time between northeast Indiana teaching at the Fort Wayne School of Art and his summers in Nashville, Indiana. By the time of his passing in 1957 (at 90 years of age), Davisson's impressionist landscapes were nationally known and he was nicknamed the "dean of Indiana artists." 331 W. Pontiac St. Fort Wayne, Indiana, 3.11.2016.
Born in Henry County, Indiana in 1866, died in 1957 at age 90, studied art at Depauw University and attended Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and several other art schools before venturing overseas for several years painting in Europe. He returned to Indiana around 1910 and made Fort Wayne his home with his studio at 331 W. Pontiac Street. He split his time between northeast Indiana teaching at the Fort Wayne School of Art and his summers in Nashville, Indiana. His impressionist landscapes were nationally known and he was nicknamed the "dean of Indiana artists."
Noted artist's studio may be facing its greatest and last fight for survival by Kevin Leininger published August 20, 2016 in The News-Sentinel newspaper archived on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. reasures from the Vault: Homer Gordon Davisson Katy Thompson April 18, 2022 at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art.
"Homer Davisson Studio" March 11, 2015 Daniel Baker on flickr.com.
This little building was once upon a time the art studio to Homer Davisson. Born in Henry County, Indiana in 1866, Davisson studied art at Depauw University, and found his passion for landscape painting. He left prior to graduation to attend Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and several other art schools before venturing overseas for several years painting in Europe. He returned to Indiana around 1910 and made Fort Wayne his home.
Davisson split his time between northeast Indiana teaching at the Fort Wayne School of Art and his summers in Nashville, Indiana. By the time of his passing in 1957 (at 90 years of age), Davisson's impressionist landscapes were nationally known and he was nicknamed the "dean of Indiana artists."
Local artist and instructor Homer G. Davisson, often referred to as the “Dean of Indiana Artists,” studied at DePauw (Class of 1889) and later studied in Philadelphia, New York City, Washington, D. C, and Europe. He was recruited to become an Instructor at the Fort Wayne Art School around 1910, where he remained active until 1947. He maintained a home studio in Fort Wayne, and also established a second home with his wife in Somerset, Indiana, where he maintained a studio and gallery. Davisson was known for pastoral landscape scenes, but he also painted portraits earlier in his career. To view more artifacts related this artist visit the History Center to see our new temporary display on his career. #sociallyhistory
A painting of PEARSONS MILL a favorite subject of the artist HOMER G. DAVISSON (1866-1957) who had a summer home and studio for 25 years in old Somerset on the Mississinewa River and a gallery in the old IOOF building. His summer home and studio was on W. Main St. He was known far and wide for his Indiana Impressionist landscapes. So impressed with the beauties of Somerset and the Mississinewa that many of his paintings have them as their theme. During his time in Somerset, he would conduct, one or two days a week, a class of local pupils. Jeannine Durnbaugh Knotts-Brown adds " Mr. Davisson used to have an art school and would take the students out in the country to paint countryside subjects. My older brother would go with him sometimes. Mr. Davisson corrupted my brother because the young women (gasp!) smoked! For some reason when I think of the stories my brother told, I see sheep, so perhaps one of the paintings of sheep was done when he was with Mr. Davisson. I have always wanted a Davisson." He was a teacher in the Fort Wayne Art School and a charter member of the Brown County Art Galley Association.
His paintings have become highly sought after. His paintings can be found in Wabash County at the Wabash Carnegie Public Library, Honeywell Center, Woman's Clubhouse and Manchester College. The Peabody Home collection was sold at auction in 2015. For a more complete biography of Davisson see Wabash County Chronicles page 118-20. Larry Drook says "I grew up in Somerset. My Mother was Postmaster there for 44 years. Mr. Davisson painted a license plate for my wagon when I was about 6. He was a familiar fixture in the area, often setting up his easel in the roadway to capture a scene on canvas."
John Bevier adds “This is a marvelous painting. I love the colors and the freedom of each brush stroke…Mr. Davisson had lots of talent.” And Judie Silvers continues “Beautiful Art, don’t miss the collection at the Wabash Carnegie Library!”
On this day in Wabash County history, in 1957: Homer Davisson, an outstanding Indiana artist who kept a studio in old Somerset, died in Fort Wayne at the age of 90.
