Carson Davenport, 1908-1972

Carson Davenport, a native of Danville, was an artist of national reputation and an artist-teacher of the first-rank. Born on February 14, 1908, he spent most of his life working in watercolors. During the Depression he participated in the Public Works Art Project and his work attracted the attention of Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt. She chose his painting Pioneer Women to hang in the White House.

Mr. Davenport attended the Danville Public Schools and studied at various schools including the Corcoran School in Washington, Grand Central School of Art in N. Y., and the John Ringling School in Sarasota, Florida. His works have been exhibited widely. He is represented in numerous public and private collections throughout the country including the White House Collection, Knoedler Galleries of N. Y., the Virginia Museum and Valentine Museum in Richmond.

Davenport opened a summer art school at Chincoteague Island off the eastern shore of Virginia, where he enjoyed painting the wild ponies and marine landscapes. He described his unique style as an attempt to "stimulate the brilliance of the color of mosaic, as Roualt was influenced by the brilliance of the colors of stained glass."

Carson Davenport was chair of the Averett College Art Department from 1943 until his retirement in 1969. He died on September 28, 1972.

The library's Davenport Collection includes 64 works in oil, watercolor, and other media, dating from 1928 to 1972.

Selected Davenport works (PDF)

View gallery of selected Davenport works (PDF)