Anthony Thieme

Anthony Thieme: A Master of Light and Shadow

Anthony Thieme was a Dutch-born American landscape and maritime painter who is best known for his work in the Rockport School of American regional art. Thieme was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on February 20, 1888. He showed an early talent for art, and at the age of 14, he was accepted to the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague. After graduating from the Academy, Thieme traveled extensively throughout Europe, studying the works of the Old Masters.

In 1917, Thieme emigrated to the United States. He settled in Boston, where he worked as a set designer and book illustrator. In 1920, Thieme moved to Rockport, Massachusetts, a small town on Cape Ann that was home to a thriving community of artists. Thieme quickly became one of the leading figures of the Rockport School, and his paintings of the town's harbor, beaches, and rocky coastlines soon gained national and international acclaim.

Thieme was a master of light and shadow, and his paintings are characterized by their vibrant colors and dramatic compositions. He was also a skilled watercolorist, and his work in this medium is just as beautiful and evocative as his oil paintings. Thieme exhibited his work widely throughout his career, and he was a member of many prestigious art organizations, including the National Academy of Design, the American Watercolor Society, and the Rockport Art Association.

Thieme's work is held in the collections of many major museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. He died by suicide in Greenwich, Connecticut, on December 6, 1954. He was 66 years old.

Early Life and Education

Anthony Thieme was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on February 20, 1888. His father was a merchant and his mother was a homemaker. Thieme showed an early talent for art, and at the age of 14, he was accepted to the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague. After graduating from the Academy, Thieme traveled extensively throughout Europe, studying the works of the Old Masters.

Immigration to the United States

The Rockport School

The Rockport School of American regional art was a group of artists who worked in the town of Rockport, Massachusetts, from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century. The artists of the Rockport School were known for their paintings of the town's harbor, beaches, and rocky coastlines. They were also known for their use of light and shadow, and their paintings are characterized by their vibrant colors and dramatic compositions.

Some of the most famous artists of the Rockport School include Aldro Hibbard, Emil Gruppe, W. Lester Stevens, Antonio Cirino, and Marguerite Pierson. Thieme was a close friend of many of these artists, and he was one of the most important figures in the development of the Rockport School.

Later Career

Thieme exhibited his work widely throughout his career, and he was a member of many prestigious art organizations, including the National Academy of Design, the American Watercolor Society, and the Rockport Art Association. His work is held in the collections of many major museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Thieme died by suicide in Greenwich, Connecticut, on December 6, 1954. He was 66 years old.

Legacy

Anthony Thieme was a major figure in the development of American regional art. His paintings of the town of Rockport are some of the most beautiful and evocative works of art ever created. Thieme's work continues to be admired by art lovers all over the world.