b. Jan. 24, 1885, Philadelphia, PA.
d. Nov. 6, 1973, Croton, NY

The Catalogue Raisonné: The Graphic Work of George Biddle by Martha Pennigar has a very good summary of Biddle’s life and artistic career, including a list of selected exhibitions. Please consult that for extensive details.

Briefly: Biddle was a Harvard Law School graduate of 1911, who immediately decided to pursue an art career rather than the law. Over the next four years he studied in both Europe and the US. He first attended the Academy Julian in Paris, then spent time on printmaking in Munich, and Philadelphia and summers in France. As a member of an old wealthy Philadelphia family, he was able to finance these journeys himself.

Service in World War I interrupted his new career until 1920 when he traveled to Tahiti for a two year stay. Here he primarily worked on woodcuts. During the 1920s he also traveled back to Paris, then to Haiti, Cuba, Puerto Rico and the West Indies. A number of lithographs result from these journeys. George Miller has become his printer in the United States.

In 1908 Biddle had spent some time away from school in the American Southwest and Mexico. Now, in 1928 he returns to Mexico, traveling with Diego Rivera on a sketching trip through Mexico. This relationship would be of value in later years.

The Depression years prompted Biddle to take an active role in government support for artists. He was active in the discussions with President Roosevelt that led to the Federal Works of Art Project, Biddle himself completing a set of murals in the Department of Justice Building in Washington, DC, but not without controversy. He also took an active role in the first American Artists Congress of 1936. In 1940, he and his wife, sculptress Hélène Sardeau, execute frescos and sculptures for the Supreme Court building in Mexico City.

During the years of World War II, he is Chairman of the U.S. War Artists Committee. He himself spends time in North Africa making observations and drawings. Later he is sent to Nuremburg as artist-observer.

Still active in the 1950s he does a four year term on the Fine Arts Commission, appointed by President Truman, he travels, receives some awards and produces a large number of lithographs.

Trotter numbers: Many of Biddle's lithograph carry a printed number which was assigned by Biddle as his own print number (but they are not chronological). He did not continue this throughout his career. In 1950 Massey Trotter published a catalogue of Biddle prints. Trotter used these numbers in compiling his listing of Biddle prints, hence these numbers have become known as "Trotter Numbers". However, these numbers are not necessarily chronological and Martha Pennigar attempted to make a chronological list in her catalogue by also referencing an earlier list and also Biddle's notes.