Edward Charles Volkert
Encyclopedia
Edward Charles Volkert was an American Impressionist artist
best known for his colorful and richly painted impressionist landscapes. His trademark subject was that of cattle and plowmen. He has been referred to as America's cattle painter extraordinaire".
The son of a hat merchant from Alsace
, Volkert was born in Cincinnati, Ohio
, in 1871. He studied at the Cincinnati Art Academy under Frank Duveneck
, whose draftsmanship would influence Volkert. His mature style combined elements of the Barbizon school
of painting and impressionism. Academic institutions he attended were Art Students League of New York
and Cincinnati Art Academy. He also studied under George de Forest Brush
, Henry Siddons Mowbray
, and William Merritt Chase
.
For many years he traveled between Cincinnati and New York City
, and most preferred to paint cattle in Ohio farmlands. While living in New York, Volkert was president of the Bronx Art Guild.
Other Association and Club Memberships included the American Federation of Arts
, the National Academy of Design
, National Arts Club
, New York Watercolor Society, Paint and Clay Club, and the Salmagundi Club
.
After staying in Old Lyme, Connecticut
, as a guest of Florence Griswold
. He eventually moved near Old Lyme, CT, in part because of his interest in painting their ever-present oxen, which Volkert described as "twice as good as cows at posing . . . oxen are always ready to stand still, but cows are more inquisitive and when a newcomer appears they forsake their quiet rumination and come over to investigate." His style is noted for its impressionist use of light, applied in small dots of paint, while maintaining an interest in the true forms and colors of his subject matter. When Griswold became the first manager of the Lyme Art Association's gallery, when it opened in 1921, Edward Charles Volkert became the first Secretary.
Thereafter, Volkert bought a home there in 1922, and remained in Old Lyme for the rest of his life, where he continued to work at his subject of choice.
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
best known for his colorful and richly painted impressionist landscapes. His trademark subject was that of cattle and plowmen. He has been referred to as America's cattle painter extraordinaire".
The son of a hat merchant from Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, Volkert was born in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, in 1871. He studied at the Cincinnati Art Academy under Frank Duveneck
Frank Duveneck
Frank Duveneck was an American figure and portrait painter.-Youth:Duveneck was born in Covington, Kentucky, the son of German immigrant Bernard Decker. Decker died when Frank was only a year old and his widow remarried Joseph Duveneck...
, whose draftsmanship would influence Volkert. His mature style combined elements of the Barbizon school
Barbizon school
The Barbizon school of painters were part of a movement towards realism in art, which arose in the context of the dominant Romantic Movement of the time. The Barbizon school was active roughly from 1830 through 1870...
of painting and impressionism. Academic institutions he attended were Art Students League of New York
Art Students League of New York
The Art Students League of New York is an art school located on West 57th Street in New York City. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists, and has maintained for over 130 years a tradition of offering reasonably priced classes on a...
and Cincinnati Art Academy. He also studied under George de Forest Brush
George de Forest Brush
George de Forest Brush was an American painter. In collaboration with his friend, the artist Abbott H. Thayer, he made contributions to military camouflage, as did his wife, aviator and artist Mary Taylor Brush, and their son, the sculptor Gerome Brush.-Background:Although Brush was born in...
, Henry Siddons Mowbray
Henry Siddons Mowbray
Henry Siddons Mowbray was an American artist.-Biography:He was born of English parents at Alexandria, Egypt. His father, George M. Mowbray, was an expert in explosives. Left an orphan, the son was taken to America by an uncle, who settled at North Adams, Massachusetts...
, and William Merritt Chase
William Merritt Chase
William Merritt Chase was an American painter known as an exponent of Impressionism and as a teacher. He is also responsible for establishing the Chase School, which later would become Parsons The New School for Design.- Early life and training :He was born in Williamsburg , Indiana, to the family...
.
For many years he traveled between Cincinnati and 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...
, and most preferred to paint cattle in Ohio farmlands. While living in New York, Volkert was president of the Bronx Art Guild.
Other Association and Club Memberships included the American Federation of Arts
American Federation of Arts
The American Federation of Arts is an organization in the United States of museums and other entities involved in the arts. It was established in 1909 at a convention held in Washington, D. C. from May 11–13 of that year called by the National Academy of Art. The concept for the organization was...
, the National Academy of Design
National Academy of Design
The National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, founded in New York City as the National Academy of Design – known simply as the "National Academy" – is an honorary association of American artists founded in 1825 by Samuel F. B. Morse, Asher B. Durand, Thomas Cole, Martin E...
, National Arts Club
National Arts Club
The National Arts Club is a private club in Gramercy Park, New York City, New York, USA. It was founded in 1898 to "stimulate, foster, and promote public interest in the arts and to educate the American people in the fine arts". Since 1906 the organization has occupied the Samuel J...
, New York Watercolor Society, Paint and Clay Club, and the Salmagundi Club
Salmagundi Club
The Salmagundi Club, also known as the Salmagundi Art Club, was founded in 1871 in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York, in the United States. It currently is located at 47 Fifth Avenue...
.
After staying in Old Lyme, Connecticut
Old Lyme, Connecticut
Old Lyme is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The Main Street of the town is a historic district. The town has long been a popular summer resort and artists' colony...
, as a guest of Florence Griswold
Florence Griswold
Florence Ann Griswold was a resident of Old Lyme, Connecticut, USA who became the nucleus of the "Lyme Art Colony" in the early 20th century. Her home has since been made into the Florence Griswold Museum....
. He eventually moved near Old Lyme, CT, in part because of his interest in painting their ever-present oxen, which Volkert described as "twice as good as cows at posing . . . oxen are always ready to stand still, but cows are more inquisitive and when a newcomer appears they forsake their quiet rumination and come over to investigate." His style is noted for its impressionist use of light, applied in small dots of paint, while maintaining an interest in the true forms and colors of his subject matter. When Griswold became the first manager of the Lyme Art Association's gallery, when it opened in 1921, Edward Charles Volkert became the first Secretary.
Thereafter, Volkert bought a home there in 1922, and remained in Old Lyme for the rest of his life, where he continued to work at his subject of choice.