Earl Hofmann
Encyclopedia
Earl Hofmann was one of Baltimore's realist artists
who studied with and assisted Jacques Maroger
at the Maryland Institute College of Art
. He was a major part of the Baltimore art scene of the mid-twentieth century. Hofmann also taught at the Maryland Institute College of Art
, and Saint Mary's College
in Saint Mary's City, Maryland.
. After serving in the Marines he attended Maryland Institute College of Art
where he studied and assisted Jacques Maroger until Maroger's death. In 1961, he and a group of Baltimore painters founded the Maroger Group and the Six Realists. Earl Hofmann was a respected teacher at Boys Latin School, the Baltimore County Public Schools
, Charles County Community College, St. Mary's College of Maryland
, and private classes. Hofmann painted and exhibited portraits, street scenes, still life, liturgical images, fantasy scenes, and murals, for individuals, commercial enterprises, churches, courthouses, and schools. The painting, "Jean Betty" is located in the Saint Mary's County Governmental Center. A mural featuring Historic Saint Mary's City in a timeline from the early 17th century to the late 20th century is part of a Smithsonian collection in the Saint Mary's City Visitor Center. Murals and paintings by Earl Hofmann are on display in many places in Baltimore such as, Mercy Medical Center
, St. Ignatius Church, St. Joseph Monastery, and the Basilica of Assumption. Earl Hofmann won many art awards and became part of the New York City
art scene at a young age. He won an award and representation at the Grand Central Art Galleries
in 1951 in a juried competition which was judged by Edward Hopper
. Hofmann informally studied with and assisted Reginald Marsh
during the early 1950s. He was a frequent exhibitor at the Peale Museum
in Baltimore, the Corcoran Museum Biennial, the Venice Biennial, the Guggenheim Traveling Exhibition, the Butler Institute of American Art, and the International Institute of Arts and Letters.
Personal Life
Earl Hofmann married Jean Nordstrom in 1949, and had four children in Baltimore, Maryland. They lived in Bolton Hill, an artist neighborhood that included the Maryland Institute College of Art
, and many artist and teachers such as Norman Carlberg
. The family moved to Saint Mary's County, in Southern Maryland when Mr. Hofmann was appointed artist-in-residence at St. Mary's College of Maryland
in 1971. As the children grew up they moved back to Baltimore, and Earl and Jean Hofmann stayed in Hollywood, Maryland
, not far from Leonardtown. From 1970s to the early 1990s, Earl was an artist-in-residence and continued painting until he became ill with lung cancer and died on September 29, 1992. In 1992, the Hofmann family started an company called Pontifex Inc., which prepared and sold Earl Hofmann's formula of the Maroger Medium.
Realism (arts)
Realism in the visual arts and literature refers to the general attempt to depict subjects "in accordance with secular, empirical rules", as they are considered to exist in third person objective reality, without embellishment or interpretation...
who studied with and assisted Jacques Maroger
Jacques Maroger
Jacques Maroger was a painter and the technical director of the Louvre Museum's laboratory in Paris. He devoted his life to understanding the oil-based media of the Old Masters....
at the Maryland Institute College of Art
Maryland Institute College of Art
Maryland Institute College of Art is an art and design college in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. It was founded in 1826 as the Maryland Institute for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts, making it one of the first and oldest art colleges in the United States. In 2008, MICA was ranked #2 in the nation...
. He was a major part of the Baltimore art scene of the mid-twentieth century. Hofmann also taught at the Maryland Institute College of Art
Maryland Institute College of Art
Maryland Institute College of Art is an art and design college in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. It was founded in 1826 as the Maryland Institute for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts, making it one of the first and oldest art colleges in the United States. In 2008, MICA was ranked #2 in the nation...
, and Saint Mary's College
Saint Mary's College
Saint Mary's College , is the name of several colleges and schools:-Australia:*St Mary's College , a residential college*St Mary's College, Hobart, an all girls Catholic school in Tasmania*St...
in Saint Mary's City, Maryland.
Art career
Earl Hofmann was born on March 11, 1928 in Baltimore, Maryland. He started painting at the age of 12 and continued to develop his interest in art throughout his teenage years. Hofmann graduated Forest Park High SchoolForest Park High School (Maryland)
Forest Park Senior High School is a four year, public high school in Baltimore, Maryland. Forest Park was established in 1924 as the Forest Park Junior-Senior High School. In 1932, the Forest Park Junior High School was moved and renamed the Garrison Junior High School.-Notable alumni: *Billy...
. After serving in the Marines he attended Maryland Institute College of Art
Maryland Institute College of Art
Maryland Institute College of Art is an art and design college in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. It was founded in 1826 as the Maryland Institute for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts, making it one of the first and oldest art colleges in the United States. In 2008, MICA was ranked #2 in the nation...
where he studied and assisted Jacques Maroger until Maroger's death. In 1961, he and a group of Baltimore painters founded the Maroger Group and the Six Realists. Earl Hofmann was a respected teacher at Boys Latin School, the Baltimore County Public Schools
Baltimore County Public Schools
Baltimore County Public Schools is the school district in charge of all public schools in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The nation's 25th largest school system as of 2005, it is managed by the Board of Education, headquartered in Towson. The Superintendent is Dr. Joe A...
, Charles County Community College, St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's College of Maryland, established in 1840, is a public, secular liberal arts college located in St. Mary's City, Maryland. It is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges and designated as a Public Honors College . St. Mary's College is a small college, with about 2,000...
, and private classes. Hofmann painted and exhibited portraits, street scenes, still life, liturgical images, fantasy scenes, and murals, for individuals, commercial enterprises, churches, courthouses, and schools. The painting, "Jean Betty" is located in the Saint Mary's County Governmental Center. A mural featuring Historic Saint Mary's City in a timeline from the early 17th century to the late 20th century is part of a Smithsonian collection in the Saint Mary's City Visitor Center. Murals and paintings by Earl Hofmann are on display in many places in Baltimore such as, Mercy Medical Center
Mercy Medical Center
Mercy Medical Center is a Roman Catholic hospital in the city of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The hospital is located at 10th Street SE and 8th Avenue SE. Mercy Medical Center is one of two hospitals in Cedar Rapids, the other being St. Luke's Hospital....
, St. Ignatius Church, St. Joseph Monastery, and the Basilica of Assumption. Earl Hofmann won many art awards and became part of the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
art scene at a young age. He won an award and representation at the Grand Central Art Galleries
Grand Central Art Galleries
The Grand Central Art Galleries were the exhibition and administrative space of the nonprofit Painters and Sculptors Gallery Association, an artists' cooperative established in 1922 by Walter Leighton Clark together with John Singer Sargent, Edmund Greacen, and others...
in 1951 in a juried competition which was judged by Edward Hopper
Edward Hopper
Edward Hopper was a prominent American realist painter and printmaker. While most popularly known for his oil paintings, he was equally proficient as a watercolorist and printmaker in etching...
. Hofmann informally studied with and assisted Reginald Marsh
Reginald Marsh
Reginald Marsh may refer to:* Reginald Marsh , American painter most notable for his detailed depictions of life in New York City in the 1920s* Reginald Marsh , actor in many British sitcoms...
during the early 1950s. He was a frequent exhibitor at the Peale Museum
Peale Museum
The Peale Museum, also known as the Municipal Museum of Baltimore, was a museum of paintings and natural history, located in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. It occupied the first building in the Western Hemisphere to be designed and built as a museum. The Peale Museum was created by Charles Willson Peale...
in Baltimore, the Corcoran Museum Biennial, the Venice Biennial, the Guggenheim Traveling Exhibition, the Butler Institute of American Art, and the International Institute of Arts and Letters.
Personal Life
Earl Hofmann married Jean Nordstrom in 1949, and had four children in Baltimore, Maryland. They lived in Bolton Hill, an artist neighborhood that included the Maryland Institute College of Art
Maryland Institute College of Art
Maryland Institute College of Art is an art and design college in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. It was founded in 1826 as the Maryland Institute for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts, making it one of the first and oldest art colleges in the United States. In 2008, MICA was ranked #2 in the nation...
, and many artist and teachers such as Norman Carlberg
Norman Carlberg
Norman Carlberg is an American sculptor and printmaker. He is noted as an exemplar of the modular constructivist style....
. The family moved to Saint Mary's County, in Southern Maryland when Mr. Hofmann was appointed artist-in-residence at St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's College of Maryland, established in 1840, is a public, secular liberal arts college located in St. Mary's City, Maryland. It is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges and designated as a Public Honors College . St. Mary's College is a small college, with about 2,000...
in 1971. As the children grew up they moved back to Baltimore, and Earl and Jean Hofmann stayed in Hollywood, Maryland
Hollywood, Maryland
Hollywood is an unincorporated community located within St. Mary's County, Maryland. It was named in 1867, when a storeowner at Thompson's General Store near the Uniontown section of Hollywood required a name for the post office inside the store...
, not far from Leonardtown. From 1970s to the early 1990s, Earl was an artist-in-residence and continued painting until he became ill with lung cancer and died on September 29, 1992. In 1992, the Hofmann family started an company called Pontifex Inc., which prepared and sold Earl Hofmann's formula of the Maroger Medium.