About Edwin Blashfield
painting the Library of Congress dome, designing a two-dollar bill, and translating Vasari into English with his wife

Where to see Edwin Blashfield
Collection holdings are reported here; current display varies. Check with each museum before visiting.
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3 recorded works
Yale University Art Gallery
New Haven, United States
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1 recorded work
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Kansas City, United States
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1 recorded work
National Gallery of Art
Washington D.C., United States
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1 recorded workArt Institute of Chicago
Chicago, United States
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1 recorded work
Indianapolis Museum of Art
Indianapolis, United States
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1 recorded work
Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York City, United States
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I see Edwin Blashfield's work?
Edwin Blashfield's artworks can be viewed in several locations. In the United States, these include the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (California), the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (Minnesota), the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (Richmond), the Wolfsonian at Florida International University (Miami Beach), and the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art (Winter Park, Florida). In Canada, Blashfield's art is held at the Royal Ontario Museum (Toronto). In the United Kingdom, one can find his pieces at the Victoria & Albert Museum (London), the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery (Brighton), the Geffrye Museum (London), the Manchester Art Gallery (Manchester), and the National Museums of Scotland, Royal Museum (Edinburgh).What should I know about Edwin Blashfield's prints?
When considering prints by Edwin Blashfield, bear in mind some facts about fine art printmaking. Original prints are produced in limited editions; they usually command higher prices than posters, which are not numbered. Plates for original prints are made by hand; therefore, the number of prints is restricted by how many impressions can be made before the plate degrades. Some publishers limit the number of impressions, increasing a print’s value. Limits may be set as high as 700 to 1,000 impressions, but some prints are limited to between 250 and 500, making them highly prized by collectors. Before entering the print market, it is useful to know the standard method of signing and numbering editions. All prints in a limited edition should be numbered (for example, 35/100). The larger number is the total number of prints; the smaller number is the print's sequential number. Many artists sign and number their prints in pencil.Why are Edwin Blashfield's works important today?
Edwin Blashfield (1848-1936) was an American painter and muralist whose work is valued for its contribution to the American Renaissance movement. This movement sought to incorporate classical ideals into American art and architecture. Blashfield's murals, often found in public buildings, reflect this aim through their allegorical figures and classical compositions. His artworks promoted civic virtues and historical narratives, aligning with the era's desire for cultural uplift and national identity. Blashfield's academic approach provided a sense of order during a period of rapid social and artistic change. His influence extended to a generation of artists who also pursued public art projects with similar goals. His works offer insights into the cultural values and artistic preferences of early 20th-century America.Who did Edwin Blashfield influence?
Edwin Howland Blashfield (1848-1936) was a prolific American muralist and author. Although he taught at institutions like the Cooper Union in New York, it is difficult to identify specific artists who directly imitated his style. Instead, Blashfield's influence is more evident in the broader adoption of mural painting as a means of civic decoration in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His writings, such as "Mural Painting in America" (1913), helped to codify the principles and practices of muralism, impacting a generation of artists who sought to create large-scale public works. Blashfield's presidency of the Society of American Artists also placed him in a position to shape artistic tastes and trends. His emphasis on academic training and classical ideals affected the artistic standards of the time. His work, and his advocacy for mural painting, helped to create a climate in which other muralists, such as those working on the WPA Federal Art Project during the Depression era, could find opportunities and acceptance.What is Edwin Blashfield's most famous work?
Without more specific source material, it is difficult to name Edwin Blashfield's single 'most famous work' with certainty. He was a prolific American artist known for his murals, particularly in public buildings. Many of these murals are still viewable today. Some notable examples of his work include murals in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.; these depict subjects such as 'The Epic Poet' and 'Time Saving Truth from Envy and Discord'. Blashfield also created murals for state capitols, such as the Iowa State Capitol Building. His artistic output spanned a range of subjects, from historical and allegorical scenes to religious themes. Further research would be required to determine which of these many works is considered his most well-known.What style or movement did Edwin Blashfield belong to?
Edwin Blashfield belonged to the Neoclassical movement. Neoclassicism was a revival of classical art and architecture that began in Europe around 1750. It lasted until about 1830, although late Neoclassicism continued through the 1870s. The movement was born in Italy and France, then spread across Europe to Russia, and to the United States. Neoclassicism was not the first classical revival in Europe; ancient Rome had been a source of interest from the fall of the Roman Empire through the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance. The Baroque and Rococo eras responded to classicism in different ways, sometimes applying ancient ideals, while moving toward new aesthetic approaches. In the mid-18th century, a series of events helped precipitate a fuller examination of classicism from ancient Greece and Rome. It came to be viewed as a style and philosophy that could offer a sense of purpose and dignity to art, consistent with the new "enlightened" thinking of the era. The Enlightenment spurred interest in Greece and Rome, which led to excavations at Herculaneum and Pompeii.What was Edwin Blashfield known for?
Edwin Howland Blashfield (1848-1936) was an American painter and muralist. He is best known for his work on large-scale interior decoration projects. Blashfield studied painting in Paris with Léon Bonnat between 1867 and 1870. He exhibited at the Paris Salon. He returned to the United States, and established himself in New York. There, he designed stained glass, and also produced illustrations. His reputation rests primarily on his murals for buildings. These include the dome of the Manufacturers' and Liberal Arts Building at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago; St. Matthew's English Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hanover, Pennsylvania, in 1894; the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines; the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison; the Detroit Public Library; and the George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium. Many of Blashfield's murals depict allegorical figures. These are often set against classical architectural backgrounds. His style blends academic realism with Beaux-Arts influences. He also wrote on art-related topics. These writings include *Mural Painting in America* (1913).What is Edwin Blashfield known for?
Edwin Blashfield is known as one of America's most prominent muralists. He also designed the 1896 two-dollar bill.
Sources
Where to See guide aggregates verified holdings of Edwin Blashfield's works across the following collections.
- [1] museum Art Institute of Chicago Used for: museum holdings.
- [2] book Jennifer D. Milam, Historical Dictionary of Rococo Art Used for: biography.
- [3] book Masterpieces of western art : a history of art in 900 individual studies from the Gothic to the present day Used for: biography.
- [4] book Landauer, Susan, The not-so-still life : a century of California painting and sculpture Used for: biography.
Editorial overseen by Solis Prints. Sources verified 2026-10-14. Click a source for details, or hover over [N] in the page above to preview.
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