Frank Knox Morton Rehn was a marine painter and president of the Salmagundi Club.
Background
Frank Knox Morton Rehn was born on April 12, 1848 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Isaac and Abigail Frances (Zelly) Rehn. His forebears came to America from Holland. His father was an inventor who is credited with some of the first telescopic photographs of the sun and moon. Painting was his hobby. Until Rehn was eighteen, he gave no thought to art. At that time he was taken seriously ill, and during convalescence his father brought him some paints. As a result, he decided to become an artist but met instant opposition from his father who had himself led a precarious life as an inventor. A friendly disagreement developed. The family removed to Washington, but young Rehn remained in Philadelphia to live on his own resources and devote himself to painting.
Education
He found instruction at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Career
His many friends kept him busy with portrait commissions. But lean years followed. After a struggle with poverty he sold quite successfully some terra cotta placques which he had painted with still-life, heads, landscape, and marines. With the money earned from them he went to the Jersey coast, discovering in the sea a motif that marked the turning point in his art career, and that caused him to specialize in marines.
Rehn was thrown with other artists and soon his reputation was made.
As early as 1882 Rehn received first prize for marine painting at the St. Louis exhibition, and three years later a water-color prize from the American Art Association in New York, followed by the gold medal of honor of the Prize Fund exhibition of the next year.
In 1896 he built his summer home in Magnolia, Massachussets, where he was associated with such men as Twachtman, Hassam, and Chase. Although he exhibited frequently in America, he did not travel abroad and sent only one picture to the Paris Exposition of 1900, a small harbor scene of Gloucester on which he won honorable mention.
On July 6, 1914, he was stricken with heart failure and died several hours later without regaining consciousness.
Achievements
Membership
He was elected an associate of the National Academy of Design in 1899 and academician in 1908. He became a member of the Lotos and Salmagundi clubs.
Connections
In 1881 the young painter was married to Margaret Selby, daughter of George C. Bower of Philadelphia. They went to New York and established themselves at the Hotel Chelsea, which had studios on the top floor. They had a son.