James Sessions

James Milton Sessions (September 20, 1882 - November 14, 1962) was an American artist born in Rome, NY.[1] Sessions was a master watercolorist of marine, sporting, and military World War II scenes. He developed a love of the sea and is probably best known as a painter of marine subjects. Sessions painted images of numerous locations, from the Bahamas to New England's busy fishing harbors, north to the raw fishing grounds of Nova Scotia, and ultimately to the Navajo reservations in New Mexico.

Early life and education

He received his first exposure to art from his mother, herself an accomplished artist. He trained at the Art Institute of Chicago from 1903 to 1906 and initially supported himself as a wheelsman aboard Great Lakes ships from 1906 to 1914, later serving as a boatswain's mate[1] in the Illinois Naval Reserve during World War I. He also worked as a commercial illustrator.

Career

Some of Sessions' works documented important World War II events.[1][2][3][4] They visually portray and convey the spirit of the American fighting forces in both the Pacific and European campaigns, commencing with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, followed by D-Day through to the final phases of the Pacific war, such as Jimmy Doolittle's daylight bombing raids of the Japanese mainland to the unconditional surrender of the Japanese military. Sessions is widely considered to be the greatest "brush reporter" of World War II.

The Chicago Tribune newspaper utilized his talents. Sessions was also commissioned by the Willys-Overland company to produce a series of 8 paintings that were featured in ads for Willys Jeep, including a 1943 Willys Jeep ad showing the Coast Guard at Guadalcanal. Sessions created other wartime advertisements, including a Borg-Warner ad in 1945 showing the mass production of radiators and clutches for motorized warfare manufactured in Detroit.

In 1962, the New York Graphic Society commissioned him to make four paintings, reproductions of which were distributed as part of the Society's Works of Masters Group. Many of his other paintings have been reproduced over the years, issued as posters and as high quality reprints on watercolor paper.

Sessions' work is highly collectible in the field of World War II militaria. His works can be found in Presidential collections, numerous important corporate collections and military establishments throughout the country. Although very prolific in the style of John Whorf and Ogden Pleissner, he unfortunately destroyed much of his own work.

The artist, Will Stewart, also apprenticed under him.[5]

Exhibitions

Sessions' work has been exhibited or collected at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City,[3][6] the Art Institute of Chicago,[6] the Museum of Fine Art, Milwaukee, the Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute[7] and the Museum of Fine Art, Cleveland.

In 1975, one of his paintings of Jamaica was featured in a group show at the Hills County Saving & Loans Building in Kerreville, Texas.[8]

Works

This is an incomplete list of the works of James M. Sessions:

Personal life

Sessions was married in 1906 to Frances Sharp[10] and in Chicago, Illinois in 1946 to Chrysanthy G. Deamanthopulos.

Sessions died on November 14, 1962,[1] in Chicago, at the age of 80.[1] He was survived by his wife Chrysanthy and his son Harold.[1][11] He was buried in Chicago's Graceland Cemetery.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "James Sessions". Deaths. The Evening Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. 16 November 1962. pp. A4. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  2. ^ Capponi, Howard B. (2007). James Milton Sessions: American World War Ii Artist and Premier Brush Reporter. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 978-1-4257-2303-3.
  3. ^ a b Devree, Howard (1943-03-14). "FROM A REVIEWER'S NOTEBOOK; Brief Comment on Some Recently Opened Group and One-Man Shows in Museums and Galleries -- From Iran to Boulder Dam". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  4. ^ "Engineers Bridge New Guinea Under Fire". LIFE Magazine: 21. 13 Sep 1943.
  5. ^ "Exhibit Showcases Talents of Will Stewart". Press and Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, New York. 19 September 1998. p. 6. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  6. ^ a b Watson, Ernest William; Guptill, Arthur Leighton (1943). "[James M. Sessions]". American Artist. 7. Watson-Guptill Publications: 25.
  7. ^ "Tabloid Tales of the Past: Feb. 26, 1990". Daily Sentinel. Rome, New York. 26 Feb 2010. p. 6. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Special Week of Art Exhibit at Hill County Savings". Kerrville Mountain Sun. 31 July 1975. p. 8. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Canal Watercolor of Old Rome Evokes Interest in James Sessions". Daily Sentinel. Rome, New York. 27 February 1990. p. 4. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  10. ^ "Entry for James M Sessions and Frances I Sharp". Family Search. Michigan, Marriages, 1822-1995. 1906. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Death notices: Sessions". Part 1. Chicago Tribune. 17 Nov 1962. p. 18. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
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