Eugene Speicher
Encyclopedia
Speicher, Eugene (April 5, 1883 – 1962) (Age 79) was an American
portrait, landscape, and figurative painter.
One of the foremost realists of his generation who closely upheld the mantle of his mentor, Robert Henri
, Speicher was born in Buffalo, New York
. He began his studies in art at the Albright Art School. He moved to New York in 1907 and began attending the Art Students League where he studied with William Merritt Chase and Frank Vincent Du Mond, and in 1909 took life classes with Robert Henri at the New York School of Art, which he found of great importance to his formative style. Through Henri, with whom he became close friends, he also became acquainted with George Bellows, with whom he also became close, and with Rockwell Kent, Edward Hopper, Guy Pène du Bois, Leon Kroll, and a coterie of realist artists with whom he associated. In 1910, he went to Europe
, where he remained for two years to study the Old Masters in Paris
, Holland, and Spain
. Upon his return, he settled in New York, and soon became known as one of the most promising of the younger group of American painters. He discovered Woodstock, New York, soon after and began to split his time between Manhattan and Woodstock, where he became an important and popular figure in the art colony.
From the teens, Speicher began to receive a steady stream of awards and honors. By the 1920s Speicher was considered a leading portrait
artist in America, practicing a form of realism. Among the awards he received was the Beck Gold medal for portraiture at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
in Philadelphia in January 1920, for his painting Russian Girl. In 1926 he was awarded the Potter Palmer
Gold medal at the Art Institute of Chicago
for The Lace Scarf. He was also given the Temple Gold Medal at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1938 for Marianna.
Recognized for his work in portraiture, Speicher’s renown allowed him to support himself with commissions, and he also executed many flower still lifes and landscapes. Always favoring female subjects, he was also one the few moderns to undertake nudes for which he became known. With a strong technique and great capability as a draughtsman, Speicher’s compositions are analytical and methodical in their design and execution.
He was nominated an associate of the National Academy of Design
in 1912 and a full academician in 1925. Speicher was appointed director of the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1945.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
portrait, landscape, and figurative painter.
One of the foremost realists of his generation who closely upheld the mantle of his mentor, Robert Henri
Robert Henri
Robert Henri was an American painter and teacher. He was a leading figure of the Ashcan School in art.- Early life :...
, Speicher was born in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. He began his studies in art at the Albright Art School. He moved to New York in 1907 and began attending the Art Students League where he studied with William Merritt Chase and Frank Vincent Du Mond, and in 1909 took life classes with Robert Henri at the New York School of Art, which he found of great importance to his formative style. Through Henri, with whom he became close friends, he also became acquainted with George Bellows, with whom he also became close, and with Rockwell Kent, Edward Hopper, Guy Pène du Bois, Leon Kroll, and a coterie of realist artists with whom he associated. In 1910, he went 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...
, where he remained for two years to study the Old Masters in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Holland, and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Upon his return, he settled in New York, and soon became known as one of the most promising of the younger group of American painters. He discovered Woodstock, New York, soon after and began to split his time between Manhattan and Woodstock, where he became an important and popular figure in the art colony.
From the teens, Speicher began to receive a steady stream of awards and honors. By the 1920s Speicher was considered a leading portrait
Portrait
thumb|250px|right|Portrait of [[Thomas Jefferson]] by [[Rembrandt Peale]], 1805. [[New-York Historical Society]].A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness,...
artist in America, practicing a form of realism. Among the awards he received was the Beck Gold medal for portraiture at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a museum and art school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1805 and is the oldest art museum and school in the United States. The academy's museum is internationally known for its collections of 19th and 20th century American paintings,...
in Philadelphia in January 1920, for his painting Russian Girl. In 1926 he was awarded the Potter Palmer
Potter Palmer
Potter Palmer was an American businessman who was responsible for much of the development of State Street in Chicago.-Retailing career:...
Gold medal at the Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
for The Lace Scarf. He was also given the Temple Gold Medal at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1938 for Marianna.
Recognized for his work in portraiture, Speicher’s renown allowed him to support himself with commissions, and he also executed many flower still lifes and landscapes. Always favoring female subjects, he was also one the few moderns to undertake nudes for which he became known. With a strong technique and great capability as a draughtsman, Speicher’s compositions are analytical and methodical in their design and execution.
He was nominated an associate of 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...
in 1912 and a full academician in 1925. Speicher was appointed director of the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1945.
Works
- "Morning Light" (1912), a charming landscape (Metropolitan MuseumMetropolitan Museum of ArtThe Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
) - "The Girl in Rose" (1913)
- John Nelson Cole (1914)Talk:Eugene Speicher
- Miss Helen Appleton (Thomas R. Proctor PrizeThomas R. Proctor PrizeThe Thomas R. Proctor Prize is a set of awards given annually by the National Academy of Design in the United States. Protor prizes are awarded annually for sculpture and portraiture....
, National Academy, 1911)New International EncyclopediaNew International EncyclopediaThe New International Encyclopedia was an American encyclopedia first published in 1902 by Dodd, Mead and Company. It descended from the International Cyclopaedia and was updated in 1906, 1914 and 1926.-History:... - Charles Dana Gibson
- Miss Mary Stuart Snyder
- Actress Katharine CornellKatharine CornellKatharine Cornell was an American stage actress, writer, theater owner and producer. She was born to American parents and raised in Buffalo, New York.Cornell is known as the greatest American stage actress of the 20th century...
in her role as Candida