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JEAN BOWMAN
JEAN BOWMAN
By John H. Pentecost
Jean Eleanor Bowman is renowned throughout the equestrian world as one of its foremost artists, depicting horses, horse people, and horse sports.
Her notable works include paintings of the famous Secretariat and many other racetrack and steeplechase winners, as well as hunting horses and riders. She worked with various mediums such as pen and ink, and pastels, but most of her sketches and paintings were in oils. She rarely painted from photographs, preferring to “see for herself.”
Her training in New York and Boston emphasized classical techniques focusing on attitude, color, composition, light and style. She was particularly known for her attention to the conformation of the horse.
Much of Jean’s work was commissioned, which often required extensive travel to discuss potential projects and conduct studies. Her works are housed in prestigious collections and horse museums such as: The National Sporting Library and the Museum of Hounds and Hunting in Middleburg, the National Museum of Racing in Saratoga and the Laurel Clubhouse.
Notable pieces include a presentation fixture for Queen Elizabeth II of her racehorse, Hopeful Venture. Her paintings included work for many prominent figures: Paul Mellon, Richard K. Mellon, Walter Chrysler, Daphne W. & John H. Cheatham, III, Bettina Belmont Ward, Walter Jeffords, Robert Kleberg, John Hay Whitney, George Widener, the Duchess of Westminster, and Peggy Hennessy.
Her art appeared on the covers of many horse publications: The Chronicle of the Horse, Virginia Country and Spur magazines. Photographs of her work have appeared in the pages of the Maryland Horse and British Racehorse magazines. Jean Illustrated one book KNOW ABOUT HORSES, with pen and ink drawings, written by Harry Disston.
Born in 1917 in Mount Vernon, New York, she attended the Spence School in New York City and Bronxville High School in Bronxville, New York. According to The Chronicle in its Sept. 9, 1944 issue, her training included studies at the Art Students League in New York. Who’s Who states she studied at the Grand Central Art School with Jerry Farnsworth, the National Academy of Design with Leon Knoll, and in Boston with Scott Kerby. She first became noticed as an artist in the early 1940s by The Chronicle when she was living in Ruxton, Maryland.
In 1945, she moved to Middleburg and then to Clarke County in 1946, residing principally at “Lucky Hit” in White Post, where she had her studio and horses. In the early 1950s, she moved back to Fauquier and Loudoun counties, restoring an 1860s dwelling called “Bonnie Castle” outside the village of Unison near Middleburg and adding a studio.
In 1980, Jean co-founded and served as the first president of the American Academy of Equine Art, and later served as chairman of the board and an instructor in workshops . The Academy currently gives an annual Jean Bowman Award for Excellence in Classical Equine Art.
Jean died tragically in a small plane crash near Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, on August 16, 1994. She was married four times: to Richard Pentecost, Alexander Mackay-Smith, John Magruder III, and Charles Morgan. She is survived by her son, John H. Pentecost of Poolesville, Maryland, and his two children, Jason and Victoria.
Biography drawn largely from “Jean Bowman, Artist, Clarke County” by Stuart E. Brown, Jr.; Virginia Book Company, Berryville, VA; published 2000.
The Jean Bowman 60 Years Retrospective Exhibition will open Saturday, September 14 at The Museum of Hounds and Hunting North American at 11 W. Washington St. in Middleburg. This exhibit will be on view until Sunday, October 27. More than 35 paintings from local private collections will be on display. https://mhhna.org/
