What great artists were famous around the time when the U.S. constitution was being adopted? Need two of them?

Question

I've already got Beethoven, but need two of them to start doing research on them for some essays I have to do. Let me know!

They must be American though. Not only art either, but also musicians

Answer 1

For a list of American painters of the 18th century along with samples of their work, see the Artcyclopedia source given below.

For examples of popular music and musicians of the 18th century, see the Early America source given below.

Answer 2

Well, actually, Beethoven was not yet a famous composer --this was early in his career. On the other hand, MOZART was in his heyday (though he died, young, in 1791), and HAYDN (who taught Beethoven a thing or two in the 1790s) was also prospering.

Musically, this was all smack dab in the middle of the "Classical Period" (mid 18th to early 19th centuries), between the Baroque and Romantic periods.

Here, in fact, is a time line of Mozart's activities and compositions during the last five years of his life:
http://www.mozartproject.org/biography/ch_86_91.html

As for painters -- it's true Gainsborough was popular then, though he died in 1788 - in the midst of the ratification process.

An extremely IMPORTANT painter of this 'Neoclassicist' period was Jacques-Louis David, whose paintings focused on historical scenes. Here's a shot of his famous "The Death of Socrates", dated 1787
http://www.metmuseum.org/TOAH/ho/09/euwf/ho_31.45.htm

A bit more about him:
http://www.loggia.com/art/18th/david.html

And Spanish court painter Francisco Goya was very popular with ROYALTY about that time!

(I wasn't clear whether you were interested in major figures --basically Europeans-- or more specifically, those who may have been popular in AMERICA. )

Answer 3

In Britain, famous artists included Hogarth, Reynolds and Gainsborough.

In France, famous artists included Watteau, Boucher, Fragonard, and David.

Answer 4

Painter Thomas Gainsborough was alive, although I'm only presuming he was still producing work.