About Henry Peters Gray
Lived 1819 – 1877 (aged 58). Henry Peters Gray was an American painter.
Henry Peters Gray (June 23, 1819 - November 12, 1877) was an American portrait and genre painter.
Early life
Born in New York City he was a pupil of Daniel Huntington in New York, and subsequently studied in Rome and Florence.
Career Elected a member of the National Academy of Design in 1842, he succeeded Huntington as president in 1870, holding the position until 1871.
The Pride of the Village was based on Washington Irving’s story of the same name and is about a beautiful and simple country girl, the proverbial "pride of the village," who fell in love with an army officer. When the officer is transferred to another post, he asks that she accompany him, however, her pure mind was so upset by this indecorous suggestion that she pined away, surrounded by her devoted family. The painting shows her in her decline, possibly "thinking of her faithless lover?—or were her thoughts wandering to that distant churchyard, into whose bosom she might soon be gathered?"
Gallery
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Important facts
People in Henry Peters Gray's life
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Henry Peters Gray?
American artist (1819-1877)
When was Henry Peters Gray born?
Henry Peters Gray was born on 23 June 1819 in New York City.
When did Henry Peters Gray die?
Henry Peters Gray died on 12 November 1877 in Florence.
What was Henry Peters Gray's occupation?
Henry Peters Gray was a painter.
What nationality was Henry Peters Gray?
Henry Peters Gray was American.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Henry Peters Gray
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Henry Peters Gray. https://biography.guide/henry-peters-gray/
MLA: "Henry Peters Gray." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/henry-peters-gray/.
Chicago: "Henry Peters Gray." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/henry-peters-gray/.
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