George Whitaker

1840 - 1916
Historical Rhode Island artist

Born in Fall River, Massachusetts, Whitaker spent his student years in New York. While still in his youth, his talent was recognized by the renowned landscape artist George Inness and others associated with the Hudson River School. With this encouragement the young artist went to study in France under DePaal. There his paintings became heavily influenced by Barbizon painters of the Fontainbleu, especially the talented Fracois Millet.

George Whitaker's excellence in art is equaled to his contribution to the development of a Rhode Island art community. He was instrumental in recognizing the need for an organization to nurture and support the talented artists within the state. The Providence Art Club was formally instituted by Whitaker and his friends E.M. Bannister and Charles Walter Stetson. The club provided not only a formal association with fellow artists but a public forum in which to present his work.

It is within the environment that Whitaker developed into a leading figure in the community. His writings for the A.E. Club and other journal show keen sense and aesthetic appreciation. References to this man are invariably prefaced by the respected title- "The Dean of Rhode Island Artists."