Cousins Julia (1834-1919) and Jervis (1828-1891) McEntee were born into a successful and long established Hudson Valley family.  They grew up in the Roundout of the mid-Nineteenth Century where authors, social reformers, spiritualists, artists, and people from all walks of life crossed paths. Inspired by artists and educated with Universalist, they began their life immersed in the history and progressive awareness unique to the era.

              

                 Julia married John Dillon 1866, who died after a short time, but never had children.  She was both a well-traveled and well-educated woman, having studied painting in and around Europe. Julia, like many women artists of the period, concentrated on still-life paintings.  Julia lived and kept a studio in New York City (on East 10th Street) during the 1870’s and 80’s but, in 1893 returned to Kingston.

               

                Julia’s cousin, Jervis McEntee, focused on landscapes and sketched with many friends throughout the Hudson Valley and Catskills. He married Gertrude Sawyer in 1854 and spent his days in his Roundout area studio (designed by Calvert Vaux), and in the 10th Street studio in New York City.

             

                Both Julia and Jervis met and became friendly with fellow Roundout artist, Joseph Tubby (1821-1896).  Joseph, whose background included building and sign painting, was unlike Julia and Jervis in that he did not have an extensive amount of art training. Instead, Joseph benefited greatly from his friendship with Jervis and Julia as time spent painting with them on 10th Street and in McEntee’s  Roundout studio was an education in itself and enriched his knowledge greatly.

               

               The three friends often spent time together in the Roundout neighborhood and New York City, frequenting operas and spending hours in the studio comparing painting influences. Julia, Jervis and Joseph remained friends all their lives.

             

              All three artists are buried at the Montrepose Cemetary  in the Roundout area of Kingston, New York…a place with inspiring views.

 

 

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