Elbridge Ayer Burbank was born in Harvard, Illinois in 1858 and died in San Francisco in 1949, at age 90. He received his first formal training as an honors student at the Art Institute of Chicago. On graduation, an assignment from Northeast Magazine took him through the Rockies to the Washington State coast, painting Western scenes to promote land sales for the Northern Pacific Railway.

In 1886, Burbank went to Munich to study with Paul Nauen and Frederick Fehr. Four years later, he returned to Chicago and specialized in portraits, particularly of Negro subjects.

Beginning in 1895, Burbank drew and painted from life more than I, 200 pictures of leaders and members of some 125 Western tribes. He painted many chiefs, among them Geronimo, Joseph, Sitting Bull, Red Cloud and Rain in the Face. But hundreds of other subjects 'were chosen for their distinctive individual and tribal character. Burbank began exhibiting at the National Academy of design in 1895 with "Antiquarian"#276. He continue to exhibit at the Academy until 1900. Burbank also exhibited at the Chicago Art Institute (1894-1918) and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (1894-1903).

His major lifework was launched in 1895 by his uncle, Edward E. Ayer, first president of the Field Columbia Museum, trustee of the Newberry Library and collector of Indian lore. He commissioned Burbank to do portraits of living, prominent Indian chiefs. Burbank traveled through Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona, among the Navajo, Hopi and Zuni. He portrayed numerous California tribes, and later, the Sioux, Crow, Nez Perce and Ute.

Burbank liked the Indians; they were frequent guests at his table and in his home. Chief Geronimo, before his death in 1909, told Burbank he liked him better than any white man he had known. Burbank's work displays not only technical maturity and extraordinary representational skill, but sympathy and genuine respect for his subjects. Working in oil, watercolor and crayon, with remarkably fresh effect, he produced strong, insightful portraits and scenes. They form the final poignant record of the proud lndian cultures on the eve of their dissolution.

Public Collections:
Field Museum, Chicago
Hubbell Trading Post Museum, Ganado, Arizona
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Newberry Library, Chicago
Listed:
American Art Analog, vol., pg.551
Mantle Fielding's
Exhibition of the National Academy 1861-1900
The Annual Exhibition Record of the Art Institute of Chicago 1888-1950
The Annual Exhibition Record of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Art 1876-1913

Biography courtesy of Roughton Galleries, www.antiquesandfineart.com/roughton