By Thomas Palmer
He was likely the most important painter to also have the distinction of having been born locally.
Everett Lloyd Bryant was born in Galion in 1865 and spent his youth here in a house on Orange Street. While showing an early inclination and talent in painting, he did not undertake formal study until his late 20s.
To study, he moved to London and later Paris studying under important artists Hubert von Herkomer, William Mouat Loudan, and others.
He later moved back to the US and among several business pursuits mined for gold in the Klondike.
He married Maude Drein, a fellow student, in June of 1904 and they honeymooned in England and France visiting art galleries. He continued his studies at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. He became best known for his floral still lifes and landscapes.
In 1930 Bryant moved to Los Angeles and there adopted the medium of tempura which he found best suited for western scenes. He made numerous sketching trips throughout the western states and continued to paint until three weeks before his death on September 7, 1945.
Bryant’s works sell well in current auctions, often for several thousands of dollars.
Each Saturday, we share a post about local history. We call this series “Galion History Corner,” and we will be sharing not only stories about our shared heritage but also updates on history news here in southeast Crawford County.
This series is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Bernard M. Mansfield, whose “Your Historical Galion” was a fixture in weekend editions of the Galion Inquirer. Dr. Mansfield was a friend and family physician, and he inspired the current generation of Galion historians to continue his work.
Sources: George Stern Fine Arts; askART; Wikipedia
