Ernest Parton was the younger brother of Arthur, in whose studio he spent two winters and learned to draw and paint in oils. However, he received no instruction in art from regular masters or in any schools. He was elected a member of the Artists' Fund Society of New York in 1873, contributing one work each year to its sales. In 1873 he traveled to Europe and lived for many years in England, but, meeting with success in London, he decided to remain, exhibiting at the Royal Academy and elsewhere and his closest friends were Theodore Robinson, John Singer Sargent, Daniel Ridgeway Knight and Henry Bacon. Within a few years, Parton learned to paint in the tonalist style and with moodiness of Corot and in the Barbizon style. In 1876, Parton visited the Swiss Lakes and Northern Italy, making many sketches. He returned to New York in 1884 through 1886. Among his most notable paintings are: "Morning Mist", exhibited at the National Academy (NAD) in New York, and the following exhibited at the Royal Academy in London: "Papa's Lunch", "The Placid Stream", "Sunny September", "Poet's Corner", "The Silent Pool", "Reflections", and "The Duck Pond." He died in NYC in 1933.

Member:  Artists' Fund Society, Royal Institute of Painters, London

Exhibits: Alpine Society, Dowsdell Galleries Earl's Court, 1897 Edinburgh, 1886
Fine Art Society, London Glasgow Institute of Art Grosvenor Galleries 1875-1880
Manchester City Art Gallery, Manchester Jubilee, 1887
National Academy of Design 1866-97
New English Art Gallery, 1893
New Gallery, London Paris Exhibitions 1889 & 1900
Paris Salon 1892 & 1894
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts 1905
Royal Society of British Artists Royal Academy, 1875- 1932
Royal Hibernian Society, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Toothe, Arthur & Sons, Twilight, 1893, Walker Art Galley, Liverpool

Museums:  South Kensington Museum, Tate Gallery, Walker Art Gallery, Reading Museum, Salford Museum, Sunderland Museum

Sources include:
Benezit, E. "Dictionnaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs…” 1999.
Clement & Hutton, "Artists of the 19th Century and their Works", Boston 1879.
Champlin & Perkins, "Cyclopedia of Painters and Paintings", Vol. III, NY 1887.
Falk, Peter H, "Who Was Who in American Art", Soundview Press, 1999.
Fink, M. "American Artists at the 19th Century Salons"
Fielding, Mantle, "Dictionary of American Painters, Sculptors…” NY 1926
Graves, A., "A Dictionary of Artists 1793-1893, who have exhibited works in the Principal London Exhibitions", Kingsmead Press 1904
Graves, A., "A Century of Loan Exhibitions", Bath 1915.
Graves, A. Royal Academy of Arts, "A Complete Dictionary of Contributors and their work from the foundation in 1769 to 1904", Vol. III. H. Graves, 1905
Jarmon, A. "Royal Academy Exhibitors", 1905-1970, Vol. III, 1987
Johnson, Jane, "British Artists 1880-1940," ACC, 1980
Johnson, Jane, "The Royal Society of British Artists, 1824-1893", ACC, 1975
Poynter, The National Gallery, 1900.
Schmidt, Mary, "Index to 19th Century American Art Periodicals", Soundview Press, 1999.
Thieme-Becker, "Allgemeines Lexikon Der Bildenden Künstler Von Der Antike Bis Zur Gegenwart, Seemann", band 25/26, Leipzig 1999
Waters, B. "British Artists Working 1900-1950",
Wood, C. "Dictionary of Victorian Painters", ACC 1975