Born in Newcastle, England on 12 July 1850, Meakin enrolled in the McMicken School of Design at the University of Cincinnati under the watchful eye of Thomas S. Noble. Urged on by the recommendations of the Cincinnati art community to study in Munich, Meakin followed that advice and celebrated his thirtieth birthday in Europe. Here among his Cincinnati painter-colleagues, Meakin worked diligently for four years under Professors Ludwig Loefftz, Nikolaus Gysis, and Karl Raupp. Painting in the plein air method and executing works in a variety of media, including etching, Meakin made frequent sojourns to picturesque spots such as Schließheim and Augsburg. He may have urged J. Frank Currier to take up etching (Weimer, 194...