Biography
Martin Jacob Jackson (1871-1955) was a very versatile artist. Born in Newburgh, NY, he studied at Cooper Union; the National Academy of Design with E.M. Ward; in Brussels; Antwerp; with Cornelli in London; and with M. Edel in Paris. From 1895 - 1898 Mr. Jackson was a designer of costumes for the stage in London. He returned to New York where he continued his work as a costume designer and illuminator. In 1901 he moved to Denver, CO where he taught painting and drawing and became Head of the Denver University Art Dept. He also worked as a commercial artist doing illustrations, illuminated manuscripts and advertising designs.

In 1904 he married, and in 1906, the couple relocated to Los Angeles, where he painted small "sketches" in the field, traveled up and down the coast of CA, later returning to his studio (first at the Copp Bldg. and then at the historic Bradbury Bldg.1916-1955), where he would paint the larger landscapes, seascapes or scenes from L.A.’s Old Chinatown. In 1908 he designed a stained glass window for the L.A. Elks Club. Jackson became known for his portraits and was sought out for his exquisite illuminations. He executed manuscripts for Presidents: Taft, Wilson, T. Roosevelt; Queen Victoria; Count de Baillet-Latour and many others. In 1923 he was the first president of the L.A. Art League, and a charter member of the CAC.
He was the official artist for the X Olympiad in Los Angeles (1932) and illuminated invitations for the dignitaries of over 60 countries. His paintings have been exhibited at the Waldorf-Astoria,NY; Grand Central Palace, NY; Pittsburgh Art Society; Cincinnati Art Museum; St. Louis Art Museum; Chicago Art institute; Herron Art Institute, Indp.; S.F. Palace of Fine Art; L.A. Museum of Art; Laguna Beach Art Gallery. He received two silver medals for painting at the Alaska-Yukon-Pac. Expo, Seattle; and a commemorative bronze medal for his Olympiad artwork.
His painting style was representational and mostly impressionist. He frequently painted with other plein air painters in Laguna Beach where his daughter still owns the cottage that was built in 1932. Mr. Jackson died in Los Angeles on July 10, 1955 at the age of 83.
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