Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Ordway, Alfred

ORDWAY, Alfred, painter, b. in Roxbury, Mass., 9 March, 1821; d. in Melrose, Mass., 17 Nov., 1897. He was educated in the public schools of Lowell, began studying art in boyhood, and made numerous creditable crayons and pastels; and opened his first studio in Boston in 1845. With the exception of two years spent in New York city &mdash; part of the time at the National academy of design &mdash; and a short period in Virginia, his entire professional life was identified with that of Boston. In 1856-'63 he was director of the art exhibitions of the Boston athenæum. He was a founder of the Boston art club, and had been its secretary, treasurer, and president. Mr. Ordway made a specialty of portraiture and landscape work, and was a frequent exhibitor.