Will Hicok Low

Will Hicok Low (May 31, 1853 – November 27, 1932) or Will Hicock Low was an American artist, muralist, and writer on art.

Early life

Low was born in Albany, New York. In 1873 he entered the atelier of Jean-Léon Gérôme in the École des Beaux Arts at Paris, subsequently joining the classes of Carolus-Duran, with whom he remained until 1877. Lengthy and painterly described stays in Barbizon and Montigny-sur-Loing. Returning to New York, he became a member of the Society of American Artists in 1878 and of the National Academy of Design in 1890. His pictures of New England types, and illustrations of John Keats, brought him into prominence.

Career Low executed panels and medallions for the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, a panel for the Essex County Court House in Newark, New Jersey as well as numerous panels for private residences and stained glass windows for various churches, including St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, Newark. The engraving for the obverse of the one-dollar History Instructing Youth note was done by Charles Schlecht. In 1896 he began working for American artist John La Farge. He spent two years in New York working for La Farge decorating buildings.

Front Matter from "In Arcady" by Hamilton Wright Mabie. Illustrated by Will Hicok Low. Published 1909. Photo by Mr.D.C. Sorensen

After the death of Berthe, in 1909 he married the former Mary Fairchild, the former wife of sculptor Frederick William MacMonnies.