Colorado & Regional Art

Elk in Colorado

Elk in Colorado

Year c. 1885

Artist John D. Howland (1843–1914, American)

Media oil on canvas

Dimensions 17 x 22 inches

John Dare Howland was a painter, miner and military man. He was born in Zanesville, Ohio in May of 1843. At a young age he left home and worked out west with the American Fur Company. He traveled to Colorado circa 1858–1859 to search for gold, but was not highly successful. He pursued military endeavors serving in the Civil War, working as an artist-correspondent for both Harper’s and Leslie’s. Howland traveled to Europe twice and studied under Armand Dumaresq in Paris. He eventually settled full time in Denver and was a founder of a short-lived art club in 1886. Howland is often considered Denver’s first resident artist.

ON VIEW in Visitor Lounge Gallery 18

Signature Signed "JD Howland" lower right corner

Credit Line Collection Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art; Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Award

Accession Number 2009.0392