Andrew John Henry Way (American 1826-1888) (  aka  A.J.H. Way  ) Strawberries on Tabletop

Born in Washington, D. C., Way was supported in his pursuit of art by his mother who was an amateur artist. In the mid- to late- 1940s, he studied with John Peter Frankenstein in Cincinnati, Ohio and Alfred Jacob Miller in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1850 Way traveled to Paris, France and studied with Michel-Martin Drolling and the next year at the Academia della Bella Arte, Florence, Italy.

He returned to Baltimore in 1855 and took up portraiture. However, it was to be his “grape portraits” that were to bring him the most acclaim, when in 1860 one of his early fruit still-lifes attracted the attention of noted artist Emmanuel Leutze, who remarked on its quality and offered that he should abandon portraits and paint still-lifes. Way did. His grapes were so detailed that the variety depicted in a painting could be identified.

Way was the most popular of the artists living in artistically-rich Baltimore during the late 1800s. In addition, many of his still-lifes included oysters among the many grapes from around the country and the world, commanded prices considered high during that time.

Way exhibited at the Washington Art Academy (1858); National Academy of Design (1861-1885); Brooklyn Art Association; Royal Academy (London); Centennial Expo., (1876, Philadelphia, PA, medals); and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (1877-84).

High auction record for this artist: $38,240.