Bend in the River – Emile A Gruppe

 

Bend in the River

by Emile Gruppe

Emile Albert Gruppe was born in Rochester, New York in 1896.  The son of Charles Paul Gruppe who was recognized by the Dutch as being one of America’s most gifted painters of the late 19th Century.  Emile was trained by his father and studied at the National Academy in New York City and the Carnegie Art School.  He studied under Charles Webster Hawthorne, John F. Carlson and George Chapman.

Gruppe was gifted in his ability to paint almost any subject whether a landscape, harbor scene or the human figure ( mostly nudes).  He was able to produce a large painting (30 x 36 inches) in a matter of hours.  I bought one such landscapes from a local artist in Rochester who said he spent the afternoon with Gruppe in his studio and watched him complete the painting.  After painting it, Emile gave him the painting. That was late in his career, he was able to turn out a huge volume of work and certainly had a great following for his paintings.  He was so prolific, I believe he produced thousands of paintings, as a dealer I have sold in my 30 plus years of art dealing hundreds of his paintings.  I tend to like his earlier works from the late teens to the early 1950’s.  However, it is my experience that his works from all periods are appreciated and sought after.

I believe his largest component of success is the use of color and heavy brushwork producing wonderful impressionistic paintings, this is what I hear from collectors and other dealers.  He used bold colors, with heavy impasto, his paintings for the most part are up-lifting and happy.  Needless to say he was a master of all moods and atmosphere.  He enjoyed what he was doing, the more he painted the easier it became.

He was a member of many art organizations including the Salmagundi Club, The Rochester Art Association, Grand Central Art Galleries, North Shore Art Association and many more.  His works are in many museums and private collections.  As you can see by his paintings of Lily Pads he was like so many artists influenced by Claude Monet.  His early nudes also demonstrate a French Style of painting.  His paintings ranged from New England to Florida and even a few show up from Utah. As well as being the gifted painter he was he was a teacher of art and he produced three books: Gruppe on Painting, Gruppe on Color, & Brushwork
for the Oil Painter.

Bio by Michael A. Latragna.