Thomas Eakins: John Biglin in a Single Scull, c. 1873 WNET thirteen.org · October 29, 2011 On Philadelphia’s Schuylkill River, rowing was a democratic and passionately followed sport. John Biglin was a superstar athlete of the time, and the depiction of the rower in excellent racing form, at the precise moment before dipping the oars, reveals his dedication and strength in competition.
Eakins was one of the first painters to make use of the relatively new art of photography. The museums with large collections of Eakins paintings also have collections of his photographs. He would take his students out to Fairmount Park and photograph them boxing or wrestling or rowing so that he could capture the light or the strain of muscles or angles perfectly.
SUPPORT ROW2K
If you enjoy and rely on row2k, we need your help to be able to keep doing all this. Though row2k sometimes looks like a big, outside-funded operation, it mainly runs on enthusiasm and grit. Help us keep it coming, thank you! Learn more.
05/20/2012 5:46:33 AM