Knoxville in Knox County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Lloyd Branson

(1853-1925)

— Knoxville History Project —

Lloyd Branson Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 10, 2019

1. Lloyd Branson Marker

Inscription.

Lloyd Branson. Born in northern Knox County (now part of Union County), Lloyd Branson is regarded perhaps as Knoxville's finest professional artist. Branson's family moved to Knoxville in 1868, and exhibited extraordinary talent as a youngster. After studying at the University of Tennessee, Branson moved to New York to study at the National Academy of Design., On his return to Knoxville, Branson shared a studio with photographer Frank McCrary on Gay Street. Branson began to establish a reputation as a regional artist, and took the gold medal at the 1910 Appalachian Exposition in Knoxville for one of his most enduring paintings of the region’s marble industry, Hauling Marble, featured here., Branson was a founder of the Nicholson Art League, and taught some of Knoxville's most influential artists, including Catherine Wiley. Future black abstract impressionist Beauford Delaney worked as an apprentice in Branson's studios., In 1901, the Knoxville jail summoned Branson to make a sketch of Kid Curry, a member of Butch Cassidy's infamous gang caught in Knoxville. The artist was needed after Curry refused to have his photograph taken., Throughout his life, Branson produced a diverse body of work including the design of Knoxville's Flag. His last portrait was that of World War I hero Sergeant Alvin York. These and other works of art, formed the first-ever retrospective of Branson's artistic legacy at the Museum of East Tennessee History in 2015. Branson died in 1925 and is buried in Old Gray Cemetery. , This painting is featured in the Knoxville Museum of Art’s permanent exhibition, , Higher Ground: A Century of the Visual Arts in East Tennessee , Special thanks to the McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture. , Downtown Art Wraps are coordinated by the Knoxville History Project, an educational nonprofit with a mission to research and promote the history and culture of Knoxville. KHP's educational articles and publications feature colorful characters, bizarre tales, interesting buildings, curious traditions, as well as seriously influential local events. Learn more at knoxvillehistoryproject.org

Born in northern Knox County (now part of Union County), Lloyd Branson is regarded perhaps as Knoxville's finest professional artist. Branson's family moved to Knoxville in 1868, and exhibited extraordinary talent as a youngster. After studying at the University of Tennessee, Branson moved to New York to study at the National Academy of Design.

On his return to Knoxville, Branson shared a studio with photographer Frank McCrary on Gay Street. Branson began to establish a reputation as a regional artist, and took the gold medal at the 1910 Appalachian Exposition in Knoxville for one of his most enduring paintings of the region’s marble industry, Hauling Marble, featured here.

Branson was a founder of the Nicholson Art League, and taught some of Knoxville's most influential artists, including Catherine Wiley. Future black abstract impressionist Beauford Delaney worked as an apprentice in Branson's studios.

In 1901, the Knoxville jail summoned Branson to make a sketch of Kid Curry, a member of Butch Cassidy's infamous gang caught in Knoxville. The artist was needed after Curry refused to have his photograph taken.

Throughout his life, Branson produced a diverse body of work including the design of Knoxville's Flag. His last portrait was that of World War I hero Sergeant Alvin York. These and other works

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of art, formed the first-ever retrospective of Branson's artistic legacy at the Museum of East Tennessee History in 2015. Branson died in 1925 and is buried in Old Gray Cemetery.

This painting is featured in the Knoxville Museum of Art’s permanent exhibition,
Higher Ground: A Century of the Visual Arts in East Tennessee
Special thanks to the McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture
Downtown Art Wraps are coordinated by the Knoxville History Project, an educational nonprofit with a mission to research and promote the history and culture of Knoxville. KHP's educational articles and publications feature colorful characters, bizarre tales, interesting buildings, curious traditions, as well as seriously influential local events. Learn more at knoxvillehistoryproject.org

Erected by Knoxville History Project.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. In addition, it is included in the Knoxville History Project - Downtown Art Wraps series list.

Location. 35° 57.8′ N, 83° 55.037′ W. Marker is in Knoxville, Tennessee, in Knox County. Marker is at the intersection of South Gay Street and West Church Avenue, on the left when traveling

Marker detail: Lloyd Branson image. Click for full size.

Courtesy McClung Historical Collection

2. Marker detail: Lloyd Branson

north on South Gay Street. Marker is located beside the sidewalk, at the southwest corner of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Knoxville TN 37902, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Journal Arcade Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Everly Brothers (within shouting distance of this marker); Tennessee Theater (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Site of Blount College (about 300 feet away); The Tennessee Barn Dance (about 300 feet away); Staub's Theatre (about 300 feet away); Death of General William P. Sanders (about 300 feet away); Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Knoxville.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Knoxville History Project

Also see . . . Knoxville History Project. Downtown Arts Wraps take plain traffic engineering boxes and turns them into stunning canvasses portraying the artwork of some of the important Knoxville or East Tennessee artists from the past. Art Wraps engage the public to discover the city’s rich artistic heritage. (Submitted on June 5, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Lloyd Branson Marker (<i>wide view • from South Gay Street</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 10, 2019

3. Lloyd Branson Marker (wide view • from South Gay Street)

Hauling Marble, 1910, Oil on Canvas

Photographed By Tom Bosse, April 15, 2023

4. Lloyd Branson Marker

Photographed By Tom Bosse, April 15, 2023

5. Lloyd Branson Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 260 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 5, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 4. submitted on April 30, 2023, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 5. submitted on May 3, 2023, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.