What) In the 1840's, artist Robert S. Duncanson (1821-1872) arrived in Cincinnati, establishing himself as one of the first African American artists to gain international recognition. Although it is difficult to determine where Duncanson learned to paint, he advertised his services as a "fancy painter" along with house painting. Yearning to improve his painting skills, he began to paint landscapes of the Ohio River Valley, drawing on the Hudson River School style to improve his technique.

    Duncanson's career was manifested through a large commission by Cincinnati art patron Nicholas Longworth. The commission involved a suite of landscape mural paintings that were to adorn the walls of Longworth's grand Pike Street home, Belmont, now the Taft Museum of Art. Today, the murals stand as evidence of Duncanson's most ambitious artistic creations. Each measures 9 1/2 by 6 feet and is framed by a painted scroll that is meant to fool the eye. Together, the eight paintings constitute one of the largest existing pre-Civil War domestic mural decorations in the United States. They survive as a lasting memorial to this gifted artist and as an integral part of the Taft Museum of Art. (1)

    Where) 316 Pike Street   Open Wed-Sun from 11am-5pm     $8 but free on Sunday

    Why) Back in 2008, I was at the Detroit Institute of Arts when I saw a painting by Robert Duncanson that I have always remembered. After reading the above entry in the CAA guidebook, I immediately put the Taft onto the Buckys list without another thought.  Although I ended up not really liking the Ducanson murals, I did take pictures of many other items that interested me at the Taft.