Jesse Talbot was born April 1, 1805 in Dighton, MA. Before becoming an artist, Talbot was a committed Christian evangelist. It seems probable that Talbot had been taking classes at the National Academy before he first exhibited there in 1838. His paintings suggest he adopted the ideals developed by Thomas Cole.

Talbot exhibited Christian at the Cross at the National Academy in 1847. This scene is important in The Pilgrim’s Progress, the moment in which Christian fully invests himself in the journey. At this time, The Pilgrim’s Progress was second in popularity only to the Bible.

Talbot had a friendship with Walt Whitman, as evidenced by articles written by Whitman about Talbot and published in New York newspapers. In particular, Whitman once wrote a lengthy encomium entitled “American Art–Jesse Talbot,” for the May 19, 1850 edition of the New York Sunday Dispatch. Whitman is known to have visited Talbot in his Brooklyn home as documented by Talbot’s daughter.

Talbot began exhibiting at the National Academy of Design in 1838 and continued to do so until 1860. He was elected an associate member of the National Academy of Design in 1842. He also sent work to the Apollo Association in New York City and to the Brooklyn Art Association in 1870.

In 1879, Talbot died from a fatal fall on an icy Brooklyn street. His funeral was attended by such well-known artists are Jervis McEntee, Daniel Huntington, and Sanford Gifford.

References
Fellow Journeyers Walt Whitman and Jesse Talbot: Painting, Poetry, and Puffery in 1850s New York
New Hampshire Scenery
Who Was Who in American Art