Background
Speicher, Eugene Edward was born on April 5, 1883 in Buffalo, New York, United States. Son of Charles A. and Louise (Jehle) Speicher.
Speicher, Eugene Edward was born on April 5, 1883 in Buffalo, New York, United States. Son of Charles A. and Louise (Jehle) Speicher.
Education high school, Buffalo. Studied art, Albright Art School, Buffalo. Art Students’ League and Henri Art School, New New York
Studied, 1910, in galleries of Paris, London, Holland, Germany, Italy and Spain.
Doctor Fine Arts, Syracuse University, 1945.
He was one of the foremost realists of his generation who closely upheld the mantle of his mentor, Robert Henri. He began his studies in art at the Albright Art School. 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.
In 1910, he went to Europe, where he remained for two years to study the Old Masters in Paris, the Netherlands, 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.
By the 1920s Speicher was considered a leading portrait artist in America, practicing a form of realism. In 1926 he was awarded the Potter Palmer Gold medal at the Art Institute of Chicago for The Lace Scarf.
He was also awarded 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 of 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.
Member National Academy of Design, National Academy of Academy Arts and Letters, International Society, Sculptors, Painters and Gravers. Clubs: Coffee House, National Arts, New York Athletic, Century (New York City).
Married Elsie L. Wilson, May 24, 1910.