[1] He traveled to Philadelphia to learn from the masters there, but as a beginning artist could not make a living in that more cosmopolitan and competitive environment and became an itinerant portrait painter instead.

Through a wealthy contact in Alexandria Bowman may have gained patronage with citizens of that town, including William Cranch, a judge and cousin of John Quincy Adams, whose portrait he painted.

However, at some point he rented a room from a widow named Mrs. Walter Channing Bridgen at 2 Cleveland Street, Buckingham, a place where several American artists including Charles Robert Leslie (1794-1859), Washington Allston (1779-1843), Thomas Sully (1783-1872), Samuel F. B. Morse (1791-1872),and Charles Bird King (1785-1862) had previously lived or dined.

"[14] According to Garlick,[15] Sir Thomas Lawrence had paying pupils who received little training, but were allowed to make copies and ask for advice.

[16] By the winter of 1825 Bowman had moved to Birmingham when he stayed with the family of Mr. Van Wert, the brother-in-law of Washington Irving, and opened a gallery of paintings or studio there.

"[17] In contrast to Harding's description of Bowman's lack of recognition at the time at least two accounts indicate that he was spoken of highly by important artists and critical art journals.

"[2] Sir Lawrence is said to have recommended Bowman to the Bishop of Worcester as "one of the few painters in the kingdom who could do complete justice to a portrait of that functionary".

In 1828 he painted a three quarter length portrait of Bertel Thorvaldsen, the Danish sculptor, which Bowman considered his chef d’oeuvre.

[20] An article in the Toronto Patriot in 1834 suggests that he had been invited to paint King Louis Phillip of France but returned to America instead.

He was to stay ten to twelve days before going to Washington to paint the "President of the United States to be transmitted to Gen. La Fayette."

The article praises him for having returned with a "name, reputation, and fame, gained by his own unassisted efforts, and inherent talents.

[22][23][18] While painting in Charleston Bowman was asked by William H. Gibbes upon the recommendation of Washington Allston to instruct James DeVeaux (1812-1844).

There he gave lessons to his most famous pupil, John Mix Stanley (1814-1872) who became well known for his paintings of Native Americans and western landscapes.

[35] In August 1837 Bowman again exhibited his Dioramic View of the Interior of the Capuchin Chapel at Rome, having previously displayed it in Canada.

Bowman established a studio in the Arcade in Rochester where he was well-liked in the community, and considered a particularly fine artist for having studied abroad.

[39] Krieghoff's copy of the Thorvaldsen portrait was offered at Parke-Bernet, New York March 14, 1968, but the present location of the painting is unknown.

Krieghoff's copy of a second portrait which he titled Notary with a Red Skull Cap is owned by the Beaverbrook Art Gallery Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.

[42] Cornelius Krieghoff must have held Bowman in high esteem as on June 8, 1843, he announced in the Rochester Daily Democrat a five-day exhibition of paintings to raise money for a tombstone for his friend.