Jackson, Martin Jacob

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Jackson, Martin Jacob

Martin Jacob Jackson (1871-1955) was a very versatile artist. Born in Newburgh, NY, he studied at Cooper Union; the National Academy of Design with E.M. Ward; in Brussels; Antwerp; with Comelli in London; and with Edel in Paris.

From 1895 - 1900 Mr. Jackson was an acclaimed costume designer for the theatre in London. He returned to New York where he continued his work as a costume designer for a short time.

He then moved to Denver, CO where he taught painting and drawing and became Head of the Denver University Art Department. He also worked as a commercial artist doing illustrations, Illuminated Manuscripts and ad designs. In 1904 he married Blanche Kline, and in 1906, the couple relocated to Los Angeles, where he painted small "sketches" in the field, traveled up and down the coast of California, later returning to his studio (first at the Copp Building and then at the historic Bradbury Building 1916-1955), where he would paint the larger landscapes, seascapes or scenes from Los Angeles' Old Chinatown.

Jackson became known for his portraits and was sought out for his exquisite Illuminations by such notables as Presidents: Taft, Wilson, T. Roosevelt; Queen Victoria and King Edward the VII. In 1923 he was the first president of the L.A. Art League, and a charter member of the CAC.

He was chosen to do the artwork for the X Olympiad in Los Angeles (1932) and Illuminated invitations for the dignitaries of over 60 countries, including the one inviting Pres. Hoover to open the Games at the newly built Coliseum.

His work has been exhibited at Waldorf-Astoria, NY; Grand Central Palace, NY; Pittsburgh Art Society; Cincinnati Art Museum; St. Louis Art Museum; Chicago Art Institute; Herron Art Institute, San Francisco Palace of Fine Art; Los Angeles Museum of Art; Laguna Beach Art Gallery.

He received a silver medal for painting at the Alaska-Yukon-Pac. Expo, Seattle; and a bronze medal for his Olympiad artwork. His painting style was representational and mostly impressionist. He frequently painted with other plein-air painters in Laguna Beach where his daughter still owns the cottage that was built in 1932. Mr. Jackson died in Los Angeles at the age of 84.

The Clark Memorial Library in Pasadena, CA has 6 of his Illuminated Manuscripts and President Hoover's X Olympiad Illuminated Invitation is at the Hoover Library in Washington I believe.

REFERENCES:
Original documents belonging to MJ Jackson,
Who Was Who in American Art by Peter Falk
Newspaper clippings.

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