John Lewis Krimmel

John Lewis Krimmel (May 30, 1786July 15, 1821), sometimes called "the American Hogarth," was America's first painter of genre scenes. Born in Germany, he immigrated to Philadelphia in 1809 and soon became a member of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Initially influenced by Scotland's David Wilkie, England's William Hogarth, and America's Benjamin West, he soon turned to direct observation of life for his genre scenes.

Krimmel was among the first artists in America to portray free Blacks, such as in ''Black People's Prayer Meeting'' (1813). Among his still frequently reproduced paintings are ''Fourth of July, Center Square'' (1811/12) and ''Election Day'' (1815), both filled with lively characterizations of scores of crowd members. Among the American artists influenced by Krimmel's work are William Sidney Mount, George Caleb Bingham, and Thomas Eakins. Provided by Wikipedia