Frederick Rondel

Bean Picking, New Jersey, 1890

1890

Frederick Rondel was a well-known and prolific painter of American landscapes, as well as a teacher of numerous artists, both male and female. Rondel worked in New England, especially in the Newport area as well as the Hudson River Valley and as far south as Richmond, Virginia. He was proficient in oil and watercolor painting and specialized in atmospherically-rendered landscape and marine pictures and figurative subjects. Born in Paris in 1826, Rondel began his art career as a student initially under the direction of Théodore Gudin and then, Auguste Jugelet, both romantic marine and landscape painters. In 1855, Rondel arrived in the United States, and began his American art career in Boston, before moving to South Malden, Massachusetts in 1858. He simultaneously maintained a studio in New York City as well. In 1860, Rondel decided to reside permanently in New York City, soon becoming an associate member of the prestigious National Academy of Design. To broaden his training, Rondel traveled to Europe, staying for six years before returning to the United States in 1868 to accept a teaching position at the National Academy. At the National Academy, Rondel’s most famous student was Winslow Homer. Homer attended the National Academy early in his career and took painting classes with Rondel, who is attributed with teaching him how to use oils. French by birth and artistic training, Rondel is considered one of the top American painters. He skillfully combines broad, deep perspective with clear, subtle light and his landscapes and marine paintings reflect the romanticism of Gudin and Jugelet. Most importantly the subjects of his paintings are distinctly American; including portraits, animals, New York City and the New England countryside.