Julien Hudson

Julien Hudson was an American artist born in 1811 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and he passed away in 1844. As a free man of color, Hudson was one of the earliest documented African American portrait painters in the United States. He was associated with the antebellum period, a time when New Orleans was a vibrant cultural hub. Hudson's work is significant for its contribution to the visibility and representation of African Americans in art during a period when such opportunities were limited. His training included studies under the French artist Antoine Meucci, and he also traveled to Paris to further his artistic education. Despite his short life, Hudson's portraits are valued for their technical skill and their role in the cultural history of New Orleans.