Painter and illustrator James Moore Preston was born in 1873. He studied with Thomas Anshutz at the Pennsylvania Academy of the fine arts in Philadelphia. James Preston and his artist wife Mary Wilson Preston were both associated with Robert Henri and the ashcan school of painters. James Preston was especially close to Glackens. round 1910 or 1911 Henri included both Prestons as well as george Bellow in an exhbitition of the eight (Ashcan School) he arranged in NYC at the Union Club. Although he was connected with the artists of the ashcan group he painted landscapes in the post impressionisht style with soft and subtle colours.
Preston was included in the Armory Show of 1913. James Preston was a member of the Guild of Free Lance artists established in 1920 in NYC. The couple lived in NY and often traveled to Paris. Preston produced a cover for Satruday Evening Post in April 1905 but became more active in illustration during the 1920's. May Wilson Prston was also born in 1873 in NY She studied at the Oberlin School i n Ohio and was influenced John Sloan and Robert Henri at the Art Students League.
