Biography researched and written by Evelyn Park Blalock. Please do not publish elsewhere without providing full and proper credit. Thank you.
PLEASE NOTE: At least one "authoritative" and often-quoted work provides inaccurate biographical information for Asa Park, as well as for several other members of the Park family who were early residents of Kentucky. In each of these cases, information for several men with the same given name was lumped together as if they were one person. Asa Park the artist descends from Richard Park who arrived aboard the 'Defence' in 1635. There were at least two men by the name of Asa Park residing in Kentucky during the same period.
----------
A life-size portrait of George Washington by acclaimed portrait artist Asa Park currently* resides in the Anne Wright Wilson Fine Art Gallery at Georgetown College in Lexington, Kentucky.
Asa Park was the first trained artist to establish a studio in Kentucky. Having studied with John Ritto Penniman (1782-1841) and later with Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828), Asa commanded the respect of artists and patrons throughout the country. According to cultural historian Estill Curtis Pennington, "The portrait of Washington places Park in the first rank of early Kentucky portraitists – it is one of the finest paintings to be found in a public collection in the Commonwealth."
A letter dated to the mid 1800's and held by the College establishes that a collection of paintings was donated by Rev. G. F. H. Crockett of Lexington. This letter specifically references an 8-foot by 5-foot portrait of George Washington which had been "painted by Mr. Park of Lexington, about 30 years ago."
One smaller oil portrait by Asa Park recently sold in auction for upwards of $20,000.
Brief biography:
--Born in Newton, Massachusetts, to Joshua Park and Lois Fuller Park.
--Produced several works while studying in Boston, Massachusetts, with John Ritto Penniman.
--Advertised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in early 1816, creating several portraits during his time there.
--Removed to Lexington, Kentucky, by November 1816, opening a studio and participating as an active member of the Lexington Masonic Order.
--Created the eagle relief on the ceiling and the portrait of Marquis de Lafayette that hung in the chamber of this Masonic Order.
--Was commissioned for a portrait by President James Monroe, which President Monroe commented to the press was the "best likeness ever created."
--Removed to Cincinnati for a brief time during Kentucky's economic downturn in the early 1820's, but returned to Lexington by 1823.
--Through placing advertisements in local papers, and establishing short term residence in hotels within those locales, painted portraits of influential people in Massachusetts, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky.
--While living in Lexington, maintained a separate studio and resided in the home of his friend and surrogate father, Edward West (an entreprenuer and inventor of the first successful steam-powered engine and vessel).
--Never married and had no children.
--Died in 1827, at 37 years of age.
--Originally buried with full Masonic honors in the garden of Edward West, located at the West home on the corner of High Street and Mill Street in Lexington, Kentucky. Edward West and his wife, Sarah Browne West, were also buried in this garden.
--Graves of Edward and Sarah West were moved to the Presbyterian Burial Ground and grave of Asa Park was moved to the Christ Episcopal Church Burying Ground when heirs of Edward West sold the West home in 1834.
--Graves of Edward and Sarah West were moved to the Lexington Cemetery when the Presbyterian Burial Ground was closed in 1899.
--All remaining graves, including the grave of Asa Park, were moved to the Old Episcopal Burying Ground during the expansion of Christ Episcopal Church.
The funeral notice of Asa Park appeared in the Lexington newspaper and is documented in the collection of historical funeral notices held by the Lexington Public Library. It reads:
"Mr. Asa Park, from the residence of Mr. Thomas Studman on Short St., to the garden of Mr. Edward West on High St. Jan. 30, 1827. He will be buried with Masonic Honors."
An accurate and detailed discussion of Asa Park, his life, and his work may be found in A Bostonian Painter in Kentucky: Asa Park (1790-1827), a 74-page volume of essays and images jointly published by Georgetown College and the Georgetown & Scott County Museum.
*Location of painting accurate as of July 2014
PLEASE NOTE: At least one "authoritative" and often-quoted work provides inaccurate biographical information for Asa Park, as well as for several other members of the Park family who were early residents of Kentucky. In each of these cases, information for several men with the same given name was lumped together as if they were one person. Asa Park the artist descends from Richard Park who arrived aboard the 'Defence' in 1635. There were at least two men by the name of Asa Park residing in Kentucky during the same period.
----------
A life-size portrait of George Washington by acclaimed portrait artist Asa Park currently* resides in the Anne Wright Wilson Fine Art Gallery at Georgetown College in Lexington, Kentucky.
Asa Park was the first trained artist to establish a studio in Kentucky. Having studied with John Ritto Penniman (1782-1841) and later with Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828), Asa commanded the respect of artists and patrons throughout the country. According to cultural historian Estill Curtis Pennington, "The portrait of Washington places Park in the first rank of early Kentucky portraitists – it is one of the finest paintings to be found in a public collection in the Commonwealth."
A letter dated to the mid 1800's and held by the College establishes that a collection of paintings was donated by Rev. G. F. H. Crockett of Lexington. This letter specifically references an 8-foot by 5-foot portrait of George Washington which had been "painted by Mr. Park of Lexington, about 30 years ago."
One smaller oil portrait by Asa Park recently sold in auction for upwards of $20,000.
Brief biography:
--Born in Newton, Massachusetts, to Joshua Park and Lois Fuller Park.
--Produced several works while studying in Boston, Massachusetts, with John Ritto Penniman.
--Advertised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in early 1816, creating several portraits during his time there.
--Removed to Lexington, Kentucky, by November 1816, opening a studio and participating as an active member of the Lexington Masonic Order.
--Created the eagle relief on the ceiling and the portrait of Marquis de Lafayette that hung in the chamber of this Masonic Order.
--Was commissioned for a portrait by President James Monroe, which President Monroe commented to the press was the "best likeness ever created."
--Removed to Cincinnati for a brief time during Kentucky's economic downturn in the early 1820's, but returned to Lexington by 1823.
--Through placing advertisements in local papers, and establishing short term residence in hotels within those locales, painted portraits of influential people in Massachusetts, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky.
--While living in Lexington, maintained a separate studio and resided in the home of his friend and surrogate father, Edward West (an entreprenuer and inventor of the first successful steam-powered engine and vessel).
--Never married and had no children.
--Died in 1827, at 37 years of age.
--Originally buried with full Masonic honors in the garden of Edward West, located at the West home on the corner of High Street and Mill Street in Lexington, Kentucky. Edward West and his wife, Sarah Browne West, were also buried in this garden.
--Graves of Edward and Sarah West were moved to the Presbyterian Burial Ground and grave of Asa Park was moved to the Christ Episcopal Church Burying Ground when heirs of Edward West sold the West home in 1834.
--Graves of Edward and Sarah West were moved to the Lexington Cemetery when the Presbyterian Burial Ground was closed in 1899.
--All remaining graves, including the grave of Asa Park, were moved to the Old Episcopal Burying Ground during the expansion of Christ Episcopal Church.
The funeral notice of Asa Park appeared in the Lexington newspaper and is documented in the collection of historical funeral notices held by the Lexington Public Library. It reads:
"Mr. Asa Park, from the residence of Mr. Thomas Studman on Short St., to the garden of Mr. Edward West on High St. Jan. 30, 1827. He will be buried with Masonic Honors."
An accurate and detailed discussion of Asa Park, his life, and his work may be found in A Bostonian Painter in Kentucky: Asa Park (1790-1827), a 74-page volume of essays and images jointly published by Georgetown College and the Georgetown & Scott County Museum.
*Location of painting accurate as of July 2014
Biography researched and written by Evelyn Park Blalock. Please do not publish elsewhere without providing full and proper credit. Thank you.
PLEASE NOTE: At least one "authoritative" and often-quoted work provides inaccurate biographical information for Asa Park, as well as for several other members of the Park family who were early residents of Kentucky. In each of these cases, information for several men with the same given name was lumped together as if they were one person. Asa Park the artist descends from Richard Park who arrived aboard the 'Defence' in 1635. There were at least two men by the name of Asa Park residing in Kentucky during the same period.
----------
A life-size portrait of George Washington by acclaimed portrait artist Asa Park currently* resides in the Anne Wright Wilson Fine Art Gallery at Georgetown College in Lexington, Kentucky.
Asa Park was the first trained artist to establish a studio in Kentucky. Having studied with John Ritto Penniman (1782-1841) and later with Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828), Asa commanded the respect of artists and patrons throughout the country. According to cultural historian Estill Curtis Pennington, "The portrait of Washington places Park in the first rank of early Kentucky portraitists – it is one of the finest paintings to be found in a public collection in the Commonwealth."
A letter dated to the mid 1800's and held by the College establishes that a collection of paintings was donated by Rev. G. F. H. Crockett of Lexington. This letter specifically references an 8-foot by 5-foot portrait of George Washington which had been "painted by Mr. Park of Lexington, about 30 years ago."
One smaller oil portrait by Asa Park recently sold in auction for upwards of $20,000.
Brief biography:
--Born in Newton, Massachusetts, to Joshua Park and Lois Fuller Park.
--Produced several works while studying in Boston, Massachusetts, with John Ritto Penniman.
--Advertised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in early 1816, creating several portraits during his time there.
--Removed to Lexington, Kentucky, by November 1816, opening a studio and participating as an active member of the Lexington Masonic Order.
--Created the eagle relief on the ceiling and the portrait of Marquis de Lafayette that hung in the chamber of this Masonic Order.
--Was commissioned for a portrait by President James Monroe, which President Monroe commented to the press was the "best likeness ever created."
--Removed to Cincinnati for a brief time during Kentucky's economic downturn in the early 1820's, but returned to Lexington by 1823.
--Through placing advertisements in local papers, and establishing short term residence in hotels within those locales, painted portraits of influential people in Massachusetts, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky.
--While living in Lexington, maintained a separate studio and resided in the home of his friend and surrogate father, Edward West (an entreprenuer and inventor of the first successful steam-powered engine and vessel).
--Never married and had no children.
--Died in 1827, at 37 years of age.
--Originally buried with full Masonic honors in the garden of Edward West, located at the West home on the corner of High Street and Mill Street in Lexington, Kentucky. Edward West and his wife, Sarah Browne West, were also buried in this garden.
--Graves of Edward and Sarah West were moved to the Presbyterian Burial Ground and grave of Asa Park was moved to the Christ Episcopal Church Burying Ground when heirs of Edward West sold the West home in 1834.
--Graves of Edward and Sarah West were moved to the Lexington Cemetery when the Presbyterian Burial Ground was closed in 1899.
--All remaining graves, including the grave of Asa Park, were moved to the Old Episcopal Burying Ground during the expansion of Christ Episcopal Church.
The funeral notice of Asa Park appeared in the Lexington newspaper and is documented in the collection of historical funeral notices held by the Lexington Public Library. It reads:
"Mr. Asa Park, from the residence of Mr. Thomas Studman on Short St., to the garden of Mr. Edward West on High St. Jan. 30, 1827. He will be buried with Masonic Honors."
An accurate and detailed discussion of Asa Park, his life, and his work may be found in A Bostonian Painter in Kentucky: Asa Park (1790-1827), a 74-page volume of essays and images jointly published by Georgetown College and the Georgetown & Scott County Museum.
*Location of painting accurate as of July 2014
PLEASE NOTE: At least one "authoritative" and often-quoted work provides inaccurate biographical information for Asa Park, as well as for several other members of the Park family who were early residents of Kentucky. In each of these cases, information for several men with the same given name was lumped together as if they were one person. Asa Park the artist descends from Richard Park who arrived aboard the 'Defence' in 1635. There were at least two men by the name of Asa Park residing in Kentucky during the same period.
----------
A life-size portrait of George Washington by acclaimed portrait artist Asa Park currently* resides in the Anne Wright Wilson Fine Art Gallery at Georgetown College in Lexington, Kentucky.
Asa Park was the first trained artist to establish a studio in Kentucky. Having studied with John Ritto Penniman (1782-1841) and later with Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828), Asa commanded the respect of artists and patrons throughout the country. According to cultural historian Estill Curtis Pennington, "The portrait of Washington places Park in the first rank of early Kentucky portraitists – it is one of the finest paintings to be found in a public collection in the Commonwealth."
A letter dated to the mid 1800's and held by the College establishes that a collection of paintings was donated by Rev. G. F. H. Crockett of Lexington. This letter specifically references an 8-foot by 5-foot portrait of George Washington which had been "painted by Mr. Park of Lexington, about 30 years ago."
One smaller oil portrait by Asa Park recently sold in auction for upwards of $20,000.
Brief biography:
--Born in Newton, Massachusetts, to Joshua Park and Lois Fuller Park.
--Produced several works while studying in Boston, Massachusetts, with John Ritto Penniman.
--Advertised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in early 1816, creating several portraits during his time there.
--Removed to Lexington, Kentucky, by November 1816, opening a studio and participating as an active member of the Lexington Masonic Order.
--Created the eagle relief on the ceiling and the portrait of Marquis de Lafayette that hung in the chamber of this Masonic Order.
--Was commissioned for a portrait by President James Monroe, which President Monroe commented to the press was the "best likeness ever created."
--Removed to Cincinnati for a brief time during Kentucky's economic downturn in the early 1820's, but returned to Lexington by 1823.
--Through placing advertisements in local papers, and establishing short term residence in hotels within those locales, painted portraits of influential people in Massachusetts, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky.
--While living in Lexington, maintained a separate studio and resided in the home of his friend and surrogate father, Edward West (an entreprenuer and inventor of the first successful steam-powered engine and vessel).
--Never married and had no children.
--Died in 1827, at 37 years of age.
--Originally buried with full Masonic honors in the garden of Edward West, located at the West home on the corner of High Street and Mill Street in Lexington, Kentucky. Edward West and his wife, Sarah Browne West, were also buried in this garden.
--Graves of Edward and Sarah West were moved to the Presbyterian Burial Ground and grave of Asa Park was moved to the Christ Episcopal Church Burying Ground when heirs of Edward West sold the West home in 1834.
--Graves of Edward and Sarah West were moved to the Lexington Cemetery when the Presbyterian Burial Ground was closed in 1899.
--All remaining graves, including the grave of Asa Park, were moved to the Old Episcopal Burying Ground during the expansion of Christ Episcopal Church.
The funeral notice of Asa Park appeared in the Lexington newspaper and is documented in the collection of historical funeral notices held by the Lexington Public Library. It reads:
"Mr. Asa Park, from the residence of Mr. Thomas Studman on Short St., to the garden of Mr. Edward West on High St. Jan. 30, 1827. He will be buried with Masonic Honors."
An accurate and detailed discussion of Asa Park, his life, and his work may be found in A Bostonian Painter in Kentucky: Asa Park (1790-1827), a 74-page volume of essays and images jointly published by Georgetown College and the Georgetown & Scott County Museum.
*Location of painting accurate as of July 2014
