William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) Renaissance Man
First hired by the Smithsonian in 1871, topographical illustrator William Henry Holmes was well known for paintings that were described as "orgies of pure color." His knowledge of geology, archaeology, anthropology, and ethnology made him a master in the scientific documentation of landscapes. His achievements included important publications on Native American cultures in prehistory and on Mayan civilization at Chichen Itza. He began his career as an artist for scientific expeditions to the American West in the 1870s, where he became interested in Native American archeology. In an impressive combination of art and science, Holmes was curator of anthropology for the Smithsonian (1897-1932) while also serving as curator and director of the emerging National Gallery of Art (1906-1932), now the National Museum of American Art.
Related Resources
- The Art of William Henry Holmes (Facebook Live Broadcast), Smithsonian Libraries
- William Henry Holmes, The Bigger Picture Blog, Smithsonian Institution Archives
- Celebrating Our Man of Many Hats: William Henry Holmes, Unbound Blog, Smithsonian Libraries
- Random records of a lifetime, 1846-1931, by W.H. Holmes, volume 1., Smithsonian Institution Transcription Center, Smithsonian Libraries
- Art in shell of the ancient Americans by William Henry Holmes, Smithsonian Libraries
- William Henry Holmes Papers, 1870-1931, Record Unit 7084, Smithsonian Institution Archives