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Signature / Name change
View related Fitz Henry Lane catalogue entries (2) »
Lane usually signed his works, "F.H.L." or "F.H.Lane." Only two paintings are known to have his complete signature. His use of initials in his signature led to the confusion about his middle name. For a complete discussion of this see Sarah Dunlap and Stephanie Buck's article on his name change.
5.5.1832 Newsprint The Gloucester Telegraph
"Notice is hereby given, that having had my Name changed by an act of the Legislature from Nathaniel R. Lane, I shall hereafter be known as Fitz Henry Lane. Gloucester, May 1, 1832."
Also filed under: Newspaper / Journal Articles »
Boston Athenaeum MSS .S300 no date
includes Lane's signature as member, and lists him as "Painter, Gloucester" on p. 32
Also filed under: Boston – Boston Artists Association » // Documents / Objects »
Boston Athenaeum MSS .S300 p.32 no date
Also filed under: Boston – Boston Artists Association » // Documents / Objects »
1852 Oil on canvas 28 x 48 1/2 in. Cape Ann Museum, Gloucester, Mass., Deposited by the City of Gloucester, Given to the city by Mrs. Julian James in memory of her grandfather Sidney Mason, 1952 (DEP. 200)
Detail of Lane's signature. The image has been color enhanced for legibility.
1862 Letter Terra Foundation for American Art, Chicago
A letter affixed to the verso of Lane's Dream Painting of 1862 in which he describes how the idea for the painting came to him in a dream. Lane writes: "This picture, the Property of John S. Webber Esq, Collector of the Port and District of Gloucester, was (suggested) to the artist by a dream. Sometime last fall while asleep in bed, a richly furnished room was presented to my imagination. Upon the wall my attention was attracted to a picture which I have here endeavored to reproduce. The dream was very vivid and on awakening I retained it in memory for a long time. The effect was so beautiful in the dream that I determined to attempt its reproduction, and this picture is the result. The drawing is very correct, but the effect falls far short of what I saw, and it would be impossible to convey to canvas such gorgeous and brilliant colouring as was presented to me. This picture, however, will give to the beholder some faint idea of the ideal. /signed/ Fitz H. Lane."
View related catalogue entries (1) »
Also filed under: Chronology » // Davidson, Dr. Herman Elvas » // Letters » // Letters / Manuscripts » // Webber, John Somes »
