James Sullivan Lincoln was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, to Sullivan and Keziah Lincoln. He was the oldest of six children. His father was a miller and farmer. At age ten, the family moved to Providence, Rhode Island. Lincoln's father died when James was fourteen. Needing to earn money to support the family, James went to work for an engraving company in downtown Providence. Lincoln's job was to make the drawings for the engravings; his skill at drawing caught the attention of nearby artist C.T. Hinckley, who trained the boy in the art of painting. Within two years, James was able to copy famous paintings such as Gilbert Stuart's portrait of George Washington, which hung in the Rhode Island State House.
Painting career
His painting career began in 1832. One of Lincoln's earliest clients was wealthy Pawtucket industrialist Samuel Slater, who had been dissatisfied with an earlier portrait by another painter. Lincoln's portrait proved so popular that he made several copies, including one for Brown University. Lincoln's mentor Hinckley moved away from Providence, leaving the field open for his protege to open his own studio on South Main Street, in the heart of the city at Market Square. He ran this studio for sixty years, soon becoming the pre-eminent portrait painter in Rhode Island. In 1880, Lincoln was elected first president of the Providence Art Club.
Personal life
Lincoln married Rosina Child Chase, daughter of Darius and Elizabeth Chase. Rosina's parents moved from Providence to a farm in Barrington, Rhode Island shortly after the marriage, and for a time the young couple lived there with the Chases, with James commuting daily from Barrington to his Providence studio. In 1863 the Lincolns moved into the city of Providence. He enjoyed traveling around the state of Rhode Island, to pursue his pastime of trout fishing. He had a great love of nature, which sometimes worked its way into the backgrounds of his paintings. From about 1832 to 1856, Lincoln was a member of the Providence National Cadets, an "independent military organization". For two years he was a member of the Rhode Island Militia. He did not serve in the Civil War, but was active in training recruits during 1861 and 1862. Lincoln died in 1888 and is buried at Swan Point Cemetery.
Lincoln painted eleven portraits of governors which hang in the Rhode Island State House, six portraits of mayors which hang in the Providence City Hall, plus numerous judges, lawyers, clergy, physicians, professors, industrialists, and others.
