Painted in 1843 by Otis Allen Bullard (1816-1853), the work was commissioned by R.L. Underhill, publisher of John Niles Hubbard's 1842 biography of Moses Van Campen, "Sketches of Border Adventures, In The Life and Times of Major Moses Van Campen, A Surviving Soldier of the Revolution."
The portrait is pictured on "Moses Van Campen ... In Tribute" courtesy of Jeff Salmon, a direct descendant of Moses Van Campen and Moses' grandson and biographer, John Niles Hubbard (1815-1897).
Portrait of Moses Van Campen by Otis Allen Bullard (1816-1853).Otis Allen Bullard was born in Steuben County, New York, on February 25, 1816. During his teens, he apprenticed as a sign painter for a wagon builder named Augustus Olmstead. He studied portrait painting with artist Philip Hewins starting in 1838. His career began by painting portraits for patrons in upstate New York and New England including the Dickinson family. In 1840, Bullard painted a portrait of ten-year-old Emily Dickinson together with her brother, Austin, and sister, Lavinia.
Settling in New York City in 1843, Otis Allen Bullard continued painting portraits adding scenes of ordinary life. His work was exhibited at the National Academy and American Art Union.
From 1846 to 1850 he painting a 3,000-foot-long, six-foot high “Panorama of New York City.” Sadly, the original paintings comprising the panorama have not survived. Bullard hosted presentations of the work throughout the United States to thousands of Americans, narrating its story from 1850 until his death in 1853.
“Moses Van Campen … In Tribute” is very grateful to Jeff Salmon for sharing this remarkable family heirloom.