Jacob Eichholtz

Jacob Eichholtz was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He learned coppersmithing and tinsmithing as a young man, and he did not advertise himself as a portrait artist until the age of 32. In a fateful turn of events, Thomas Sully visited Lancaster and borrowed Eichholtz’ “painting room” to create portraits of prominent local citizens. Sully soon began mentoring Eichholtz, lending him painting supplies and teaching him methods of traditional portraiture. Eichholtz began advertising himself as an artist at the age of 32, painting primarily in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. His oeuvre contains around 800 works, with many of his commissions coming from middle-class families around Lancaster. Though his name is not widely recognized, Eichholtz’ work can be found in several major American collections including the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Gallery of Art.