David Aldrich
Encyclopedia
David Aldrich was an American
artist. The landscapes and cityscapes that he painted were not painted with literal realism but rather with freedom and spontaneity in an attempt to capture the essence of the scene. As one critic wrote: “His view is always fresh and unhackneyed, his brush is deft, his strokes swift and colors translucent and unmuddied – the paper often does the majority of the work…a sort of artistic shorthand that can make water color really exciting.” Mr. Aldrich said that his work was “an expression of the essence of my feelings toward the subject in color, line, and space.”
David Aldrich’s love of art began in his childhood home in Providence, Rhode Island
, where his parents both painted and were influential in the creation of the Providence Art Club. The family often took painting vacations to Gloucester, Rhode Island and to Little Compton, Rhode Island
where they painted with their good friends, the Burleighs (local artist Sydney Burleigh
was known to Mr. Aldrich as Uncle Tid). Later the Aldriches traveled to Europe
and the Caribbean
, taking every opportunity to stop by the side of the road to paint when coming upon an inspiring view.
He attended and graduated from the Gordon School
, the Moses Brown School
, Brown University
and Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. During World War II
he served in the Army Air Corps
in North Africa and Iran, using his architectural training.
David Aldrich's artistic career began as an architect
in New York City, New York in 1933 with his uncle, Chester Holmes Aldrich
, at Delano & Aldrich. After his time in New York, he spent two years in Washington DC at the US Treasury Department. In 1937 he became a partner at Kent, Cruise & Aldrich in Providence, Rhode Island
. He later opened a private architectural firm and became the head city planner for the City of Providence, Rhode Island
.
Mr. Aldrich retained his interest in watercolor painting
throughout his life, studying at the O’Hara School, the Positano Workshop, the Rhode Island School of Design
and attending figure study classes every week at the Providence Art Club, where he was a life member. In the 1960s he was owner and director of Art Unlimited, a gallery on Thayer Street
in Providence, Rhode Island
that exhibited contemporary art from artists such as Hazel Belvo, Lawrence Kupferman, and Baburao Sadwelkar. Mr. Aldrich had numerous one-man exhibitions, notably at the Providence Art Club, the Rhode Island Watercolor Society, and the Gallery on the Commons in Little Compton, Rhode Island
. He also exhibited in many group shows in those galleries as well as the Rhode Island School of Design
Museum, Rhode Island Arts Festival, DeCordova Museum
, Virginia Lynch Gallery, Wheeler Gallery and others. His work received many awards and is represented in numerous private and corporate collections. A watercolor he did of the Gordon School
's campus still graces that school's diplomas. Up until his death he devoted himself entirely to his painting.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
artist. The landscapes and cityscapes that he painted were not painted with literal realism but rather with freedom and spontaneity in an attempt to capture the essence of the scene. As one critic wrote: “His view is always fresh and unhackneyed, his brush is deft, his strokes swift and colors translucent and unmuddied – the paper often does the majority of the work…a sort of artistic shorthand that can make water color really exciting.” Mr. Aldrich said that his work was “an expression of the essence of my feelings toward the subject in color, line, and space.”
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, where his parents both painted and were influential in the creation of the Providence Art Club. The family often took painting vacations to Gloucester, Rhode Island and to Little Compton, Rhode Island
Little Compton, Rhode Island
Little Compton is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. Its population was 3,492 at the time of the 2010 census. Little Compton is located in southeastern Rhode Island, between the Sakonnet River and the Massachusetts state border...
where they painted with their good friends, the Burleighs (local artist Sydney Burleigh
Sydney Richmond Burleigh
Sydney Richmond Burleigh was an American artist, known primarily for his watercolors but also for his oil paintings, drawings, illustrations, and building and furniture designs....
was known to Mr. Aldrich as Uncle Tid). Later the Aldriches traveled to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, taking every opportunity to stop by the side of the road to paint when coming upon an inspiring view.
He attended and graduated from the Gordon School
Gordon School
The Gordon School is a coeducational, independent school located in East Providence, Rhode Island. Students are educated from nursery through eighth grade. It is located on a site.-History:...
, the Moses Brown School
Moses Brown School
Moses Brown School is a Quaker school located in Providence, Rhode Island, founded by Moses Brown, a Quaker abolitionist, in 1784. It is one of the oldest preparatory schools in the country.-Founder:...
, Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
and Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served in the Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
in North Africa and Iran, using his architectural training.
David Aldrich's artistic career began as an architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
in New York City, New York in 1933 with his uncle, Chester Holmes Aldrich
Chester Holmes Aldrich
Chester Holmes Aldrich was an American architect and director of the American Academy in Rome from 1935 until his death in 1940.-Early life:...
, at Delano & Aldrich. After his time in New York, he spent two years in Washington DC at the US Treasury Department. In 1937 he became a partner at Kent, Cruise & Aldrich in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
. He later opened a private architectural firm and became the head city planner for the City of Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
.
Mr. Aldrich retained his interest in watercolor painting
Watercolor painting
Watercolor or watercolour , also aquarelle from French, is a painting method. A watercolor is the medium or the resulting artwork in which the paints are made of pigments suspended in a water-soluble vehicle...
throughout his life, studying at the O’Hara School, the Positano Workshop, the Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
and attending figure study classes every week at the Providence Art Club, where he was a life member. In the 1960s he was owner and director of Art Unlimited, a gallery on Thayer Street
Thayer Street
Thayer Street in Providence, Rhode Island is a popular destination for students of the area's nearby schools of Brown University, Moses Brown School, Wheeler School, RISD, Providence College, Johnson & Wales University, and Rhode Island College....
in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
that exhibited contemporary art from artists such as Hazel Belvo, Lawrence Kupferman, and Baburao Sadwelkar. Mr. Aldrich had numerous one-man exhibitions, notably at the Providence Art Club, the Rhode Island Watercolor Society, and the Gallery on the Commons in Little Compton, Rhode Island
Little Compton, Rhode Island
Little Compton is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. Its population was 3,492 at the time of the 2010 census. Little Compton is located in southeastern Rhode Island, between the Sakonnet River and the Massachusetts state border...
. He also exhibited in many group shows in those galleries as well as the Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
Museum, Rhode Island Arts Festival, DeCordova Museum
DeCordova Museum
The DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is a sculpture park and art museum in Lincoln, Massachusetts focused on modern and contemporary art, and holds a collection focused on work in all media, especially works by artists with connections to New England...
, Virginia Lynch Gallery, Wheeler Gallery and others. His work received many awards and is represented in numerous private and corporate collections. A watercolor he did of the Gordon School
Gordon School
The Gordon School is a coeducational, independent school located in East Providence, Rhode Island. Students are educated from nursery through eighth grade. It is located on a site.-History:...
's campus still graces that school's diplomas. Up until his death he devoted himself entirely to his painting.