Henry Inman was the foremost portraitist in New York during the romantic period. He moved with his family to New York City in 1812. In 1814 he entered into a seven-year apprenticeship with JOHN WESLEY JARVIS, at that time New York’s leading portraitist. In 1822 he married and established his own studio. From 1826 to 1828 he was in partnership with Thomas S. Cummings (1804-1894) as a portraitist and miniaturist. He assumed a leading role in the organization of the National Academy of Design and was elected its first vice-president. By 1829 he had attained the position of the city’s most prominent portraitist. From 1831 to 1834 he was active in Philadelphia as a portraitist an a partner in the lithographic firm of Childs and Inman. Late in 1834 he returned to New York, where he remained for the rest of his career, except for a visit to England during 1844-45. He was honored with a memorial exhibition of his works at the National Academy of Design in 1846.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
C. Edwards Lester, The Artist of America: A Series of Biographical Sketches of American Artists (1846; reprint, New York: Kennedy Galleries and Da Capo Press, 1970), pp. 34-64, with list of paintings shown in Inman memorial exhibition § Theodore Bolton, "Henry Inman: An Account of His Life and Work," Art Quarterly 3 (Autumn 1940): 353-75, supplement, 401-18, with catalogue of paintings § William H. Gerdts, "Henry Inman in New Jersey," Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society, 78 (July 1960): 178-87 § William H. Gerdts, "The Henry Inman Memorial Exhibition of 1846," Archiv. Am. Art Journal 14, no. 2 (1974): 2-6 § Washington, D.C., Smithsonian Institution, National Portrait Gallery, The Art of Henry Inman, exh. cat., 1987, with essay by William H. Gerdts, entries by Carrie Rebora, bibliography.