John Ellsworth Weis Papers (CAA/30)

Biographical/Historical note

John Ellsworth Weis was born in Clay City, Kentucky, in 1892, but spent his early years in Higginsport, Ohio. He came to the Art Academy of Cincinnati at age 15, and would study under Frank Duveneck, Lewis Meakin, James R. Hopkins, and Herman Wessel. He went on to teach drawing and painting at the Academy beginning in 1918, shortly before he went to fight in the First World War in Europe; on his return, he would teach at the Academy until his retirement in 1957.

Weis' second trip to Europe was as an artist. In the years since the war, he had been busy with portraits, figure painting, still-lifes, landscapes, as well as his teaching commitments. But in 1921 a patron provided funds which Weis shared with fellow artist Frank Myer; this allowed them to travel together to France. The two artists painted in Brittany, and visited the museum and galleries of Paris, as well as exhibiting in the great Salon of Paris.

During the 1920s, Weis' reputation grew swiftly. He considered portrait painting his true vocation and received many commissions, but also painted seascapes, landscapes, flower paintings and still-lifes. His exhibitions were critically and financially successful, and he would spend his summers painting in Taos, Rockport or Maine.

In 1925 he married Sarabelle Gilbert, known as Sallie. She had been one of his students, and would later become a teacher at the College of Applied Arts at the University of Cincinnati. In 1930,the two of them took a trip to southern France, along with another artist, Jake Kunz. They brought back a Siamese cat, Riri, and were dedicated cat lovers from that point.

Into the 1930s and 1940s, Weis would constantly experiment in his work; he did not like to be pigeon-holed and rebelled against things that he could do easily.

Weis was a member of Cincinnati Art Club, as well as President from 1927-1928. He also belonged to the Duveneck Society of Painters and Sculptors, the MacDowell Society of Cincinnati, and Valley of the Moon Society of Painters.

He died on Dec 9, 1962.

Scope and Contents note

Personal and professional papers of Cincinnati artist and art eduator John E. Weis.

Conditions Governing Access

Whilst the archives aims to provide access to the records in its care to the fullest extent possible, it reserves the right to restrict access for any reason. Please see the archives’ Access Policy for further information: www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org/visit/library-archives/the-archives/

See CAM/2/1/1 Box 79, Director's Correspondence 1918, for letters written by Weis during his training for service during World War I. Also CAA/1/5 Cincinnati Artist Files Box 51A for collected materials on Weis.

Preferred Citation note

Mary R. Schiff Library & Archives, Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati, OH.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

These materials originally belonged to Sallie Weis, wife of the artist. She gave them to a family friend, from whom they were later acquired by a local collector.

Detailed List of Collection