Jacob Cox

Jacob Cox (November 9, 1810 – January 2, 1892) was an American landscape and portrait painter in Indianapolis, Indiana. Several of his paintings are in the Morris-Butler House. He is also known for his paintings of Indiana Governors James B. Ray, Noah Noble, David Wallace, Samuel Bigger, Joseph A. Wright, and Henry S. Lane. In 1941 a retrospective exhibition of his works was held at the John Herron Art Museum.

Information Cox was born in Philadelphia and arrived in Indianapolis in 1833 and established a stove, tinware and coppersmith business. One of his first artistic opportunities came when he painted a banner for the presidential campaign of William Henry Harrison in 1840. After that, he began to paint portraits and in 1842 went to Cincinnati to open a studio with John Dunn, a former treasurer of the State of Indiana. After five months, he returned to his business in Indianapolis and continued painting as a sideline, exhibiting annually at the shows of the Cincinnati Art Union. By 1860, he was devoted to art full-time and became well known in Indianapolis for his portraits and landscapes.

Cox was also a teacher with numerous students including William Merritt Chase.

Public collections Paintings by Cox can be found in a number of public collections including:

Indianapolis Museum of Art Morris-Butler House Indiana Landmarks Indiana State Museum Benjamin Harrison Home