The Life and Art of George Frederick Bensell
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, George Frederick Bensell was a prominent American artist and illustrator. He received his artistic training under John L. Lambdin and later graduated from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, where he eventually served as an instructor and was named an Academician. His creative output was diverse, as he specialized in a variety of subjects including:
- Portraits
- Landscapes
- Historical subjects
- "Poetical genre" subjects
Beyond his work as a painter for a wealthy clientele, Bensell was a prolific illustrator for the books and magazines of his era, often collaborating with his brother, Edmund Birckhead Bensell.
Legacy and the Philadelphia Sketch Club
Bensell played a foundational role in the American art community through his involvement with the Philadelphia Sketch Club. In 1860, while still a student, he and his brother joined four other students to form the club, which first met in Bensell's own Philadelphia studio. As a lifelong member, he served as the club's first president and held the office on two subsequent occasions.
His personal life was marked by both professional success and profound tragedy. He married Josephine Crissman in 1871, and together they had three children—Paul, Sperry, and Grace—all of whom passed away young. Bensell died in Philadelphia at the age of forty-two.
