Known for his decorative work with a sense of fun and humor, especially of anthropomorphic animals, Frederic Stuart Church was a native of Michigan who had a long career in New York City. He had in-depth knowledge of animal anatomy, which was evident in the depictions of this subject in oil, watercolor, and etchings.

His first allegorical compositions were produced in the mid-1870s. Although he was a strong believer in academic training, Church did not visit Europe until late in life and felt that foreign art had little to teach Americans.

He was directed by his parents toward a business career, and worked from the age thirteen to seventeen for the American Express Company in Chicago. He did a lot of drawing in his spare time.

For three years, he served in Union artillery during the Civil War, and then returned to Chicago where he studied at the Chicago Art Academy with Walter Shirlaw.

In 1870, he moved to New York and studied at the National Academy of Design with Lemuel Wilmarth and at the Art Students League. Early on, he earned his living as a commercial artist including illustrations for "Harper's Weekly." His illustrations often featured black and white drawings of animals.

He also worked in watercolors and oils and was especially skilled as an etcher.

He was a member of the National Academy of Design.

Source:
Michael David Zellman, "300 Years of American Art"