WILLIAM BRADFORD

Bradford, William E. (1823-1892), was a first-rate luminist painter and photographer from Fairhaven and New Bedford, Massachusetts, who became best known for his Arctic views. (See William Bradford, "The Arctic Regions." Illustrated with Photographs Taken on an Art Expedition to Greenland, with Descriptive Narrative by the Artist [London, 1873]; and John Wilmerding, "William Bradford, 1823-1892, Artist of the Arctic: an Exhibition of his Paintings and Photographs" [Exhibition catalogue. Lincoln, Massachusetts: DeCordova Museum, 1969].) Bradford was also a friend of Albert Bierstadt (q.v.) in New Bedford and investigated some of the same themes the latter did as a result of this relationship. Although Bradford followed in Bierstadt's footsteps out West (Yosemite, Mount Shasta, etc.), his passion for travel led him to his fullest artistic expression through several summer expeditions to the Arctic. The artist was also in Utah in 1881, which resulted in the exhibition and sale of several Bradford Arctic scenes locally. He died in New York City. (b. April 30)

Olpin, Robert S., William C. Seifrit, and Vern G. Swanson. ARTISTS OF UTAH. Salt Lake City: Gibbs Smith Publisher, 1999: 40.