John B. Fairbanks

John B Fairbanks (December 27, 1855, in Payson, Utah – June 15, 1940, in Salt Lake City) was an American landscape painter. In 1890, he was one of a group of artists who studied in Paris under the sponsorship of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), in preparation for painting murals at the nearly completed Salt Lake Temple. He painted murals in the Salt Lake Temple and the Mesa Arizona Temple that still exist today. Fairbanks was the official photographer for the South American expeditions of Benjamin Cluff. Fairbanks was the first artist to live and paint in Zion National Park. He was an early art instructor at Brigham Young Academy and was one of the founding members of the Utah Art Institute. Fairbanks was the father of artists John Leo Fairbanks (painter and sculptor), Ortho Lane Fairbanks (1887-1962; sculptor) and Avard Tennyson Fairbanks (sculptor).

Biography Early life John B Fairbanks was born on December 27, 1855, in Payson, Utah. He was the first Latter-day Saint artist born in Utah territory. His parents were John Boylston Fairbanks (1817-1875) and Sarah H. Van Wagoner Fairbanks (1822-1898). His father was an early pioneer who had come to Utah from Winter Quarters in 1847; and died from pneumonia on May 14, 1875, leaving Fairbanks to care for the family. Hafen became his lifelong friend and mentor. Fairbanks would paint in the evenings and Saturdays. Their primary instructor was Albert Rigolot, and they became known as the "French Art Missionaries". These temple murals still exist.

Career

After completing murals at the Salt Lake Temple, Fairbanks began teaching one of the first college art classes at Brigham Young Academy (now Brigham Young University). He was one of the founding members of the Utah Art Institute (now the Utah Division of Arts and Museums). In 1933, Fairbanks and his sons created the Mormon display to tell the story of Mormonism through art for the Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Avard sculpted, J. Leo created stained glass, and Fairbanks painted. Although he painted until the very last days of his life, he never achieved wide recognition. Fairbanks died on June 15, 1940, at the age of 84 from recurring kidney stones.

Style Fairbanks received art training in Paris, yet his landscape paintings have a distinct Utah style. He used "soft and rustic naturalistic impressionism" in his paintings.

Children Fairbanks had eleven children with Lillie Huish among whom were John Leo Fairbanks (painter and sculptor), Ortho Lane Fairbanks (sculptor) and Avard Tennyson Fairbanks (sculptor). With Florence Gifford, he had an additional five children.