Matthew Hastings, American (1834-1919)

Born in Georgetown, Washington DC, Matthew Hastings was a painter of historical scenes that included Indians, was a portriatist, and also was a caricaturist and drawing specialist.  He moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 1840.  He became good friends with artists George Caleb Bingham and Charles Wimar before going to Dusseldorf, Germany to study in 1848.

He returned to St. Louis, where he painted scenes of that area as well as Arcadia, a small town in the Ozarks that became a popular place with artists.

In 1871, he joined the expedition of Father DeSmet into the Upper Missouri Valley, making sketches of Indians and other scenes along the way.

Hastings exhibited at the St. Louis Art Museum and the Artists Guild.  The Missouri Historical Society houses much of his collection.