Durr Freedley

Durr Freedley (also known as Durr Friedley) was a portrait painter and muralist who enjoyed a noted but brief career in Newport, Rhode Island before his death in an automobile accident. He is perhaps best known for his mural on the interior of the Memorial Chapel of the Seamen's Church Institute of Newport.

Durr Freedley
Born
Jesse Jacob Friedley

(1888-06-21)June 21, 1888
Indianapolis, Indiana
DiedMarch 23, 1938(1938-03-23) (aged 49)
Arlington, Massachusetts
NationalityAmerican
Other namesJesse Jacob Friedley, Durr Friedley
Alma materHarvard University
OccupationArtist
Known forMural on the interior of Newport's Seamen's Institute Chapel
MovementArts and Crafts; Art Deco

Personal life

The artist was born as Jesse Jacob Friedley in Indianapolis, Indiana. He earned his degree in Fine Arts from Harvard University in 1911.[1] During his time at Harvard, Freedley was editor of the Harvard Lampoon.[2]

At some point after 1918[1] and before 1932,[3] Friedley changed the spelling of his surname to Freedley.

Freedley, who was homosexual,[4] never married or had children.

Early career

Freedley was a staff member at the Metropolitan Museum of Art between 1911 and 1917.[1] His positions included Assistant Curator and Acting Curator.[1] In 1917 Freedley was offered the post of curator when Wilhelm Valentiner resigned to join the German Army; he declined,[1] and spent World War I painting camouflage on war planes.[1]

Paris

After the war Freedley moved to Paris, where he set up a portrait studio and socialized with such luminaries such as Man Ray, Gertrude Stein and Ernest Hemingway.[4] Among his works in Paris were drawings and paintings of performers at the famous La Revue Negre[4].

Newport

Freedley was invited by socialite Mrs Hamilton Fish Webster[4] to come to Newport in 1932.[3] She offered him the opportunity to design and paint the interior of the Memorial Chapel of the Seamen's Church Institute of Newport,[4] and continued to be a patron of his career.[2]

Freedley remained in Newport until the end of his life, painting portraits of Newport socialites such as Maud Howe Elliott.[4] During this time, Freedley is known to have traveled to Mississippi to paint portraits of black sharecroppers and field hands.[4]

Death and burial

Freedley was killed at age 46 in an automobile accident on March 23, 1938, in Lexington, Massachusetts.[5] He broke both legs and was rushed to Symmes hospital in Arlington,[5] and died there several hours later.[6] It is possible that Freedley was the victim of an anti-gay attack.[4] His body was shipped to his mother in Indianapolis for burial.[6]

Posthumous exhibitions
  • Memorial exhibition at the John Herron Art Institute (now Indianapolis Museum of Art, November 1–30, 1938.[1][7]
  • Memorial exhibition at the Walker Galleries in New York City in 1939.[1]
  • "Durr Freedley: Newport's Forgotten Artist," Newport Museum of Art, September 26, 2015 - January 18, 2016.[2][3]
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References
  1. Harmon, Brigid (December 2009). "The Metropolitan Museum of Art Archives Durr Friedley Records, 1906-1918" (PDF). Metropolitan Museum of Art. Metropolitan Museum of Art Archives. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  2. "Reviving Durr Freedley; Newport's Forgotten Artist". Newport Art Museum. Newport Art Museum. Archived from the original on 19 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  3. Hinman, Chuck (24 September 2015). "Rhode Island Artscape: Newport's Forgotten Artist". Rhode Island Public Radio. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  4. Van Siclen, Bill (22 November 2015). "Newport Art Museum showcasing the exquisite work of portrait artist Durr Freedley". Providence, RI: The Providence Journal. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  5. "Seaman Loses Life in Motor Accident". North Adams, Mass: The North Adams Transcript. 23 March 1938. p. 1. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  6. "Body of Durr Freedley Sent to Indianapolis". Newport, RI: The Newport Mercury. 25 March 1938. p. 2. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  7. "Durr Freedley: Memorial Exhibition of Paintings; November 1-November 30, 1938". Indianapolis, Indiana: Indianapolis Museum of Art. November 1-November 30, 1938; Durr Freedley was born in Indianapolis in 1888 and lived until March 23, 1938. He is best known for his portraits. Exhibition included 26 paintings and 6 drawings
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