Edmund Archer (1904 - 1986)

Artist. American portrait and mural painter.  Family links:  Parents:  William Wharton Archer (1854 – 1928)  Sibling:  Sheppard Archer (1898 – 1899)*  Edmund Archer (1904 – 1986) *Calculated relationship

Débora Arango (1907 - 2005)

Artist. She was born in Medellín (Colombia) and died in Envigado (Antioquía, Colombia). She was the disciple of painters Eladio Vélez and Pedro Nel Gómez. In 1939, she shocked the hypocrite moral of colombian society of her time, with her nude painting “Cantarina de Rosa.” She was hardly criticized and almost excommunicated by the catholic […]

José Anzo (1970 - 2006)

Artist. He was born in Utiel (Valencia) and died in Serra (Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain). He was one of the most representative painters of contemporary art in Spain, and one of the introductors of Pop Art. He was member of Estampa Popular, the representative group of Critic Realism in Valencia. His most important work is […]

Alexei Petrovich Antropov (1716 - 1795)

Artist. One of the most influential Russian painters of the 18th Century, best remembered for the sincerity and directness of his portraits. He was also an accomplished icon painter, miniaturist, and metal worker. Antropov was born in St. Petersburg, to the family of a military carpenter. When he was 15, he started his art schooling […]

Pietro Annigoni (1910 - 1988)

Artist. A native of Milan, Italy, he is most notable for his portrait paintings of beggars, and for his 1955 portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which has been used on several colonial banknotes including the 1968 Rhodesian note. His portrait of Queen Elizabeth II hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in London, England. Known for […]

Fra Angelico (1970 - 1455)

Early Italian Renaissance Artist. Known to contemporaries as Fra Giovanni da Fiesole (Brother John of Fiesole) and Fra Giovanni Angelico (Angelic Brother John), he was born Guido di Pietro at Rupecanina, in the Mugello region of the then Republic of Florence, in present-day Italy. Nothing is known of his childhood or his parents. In October […]

Mari Andriessen (1897 - 1979)

Artist. Sculptor.  Born and died in Haarlem, Best known for his work memorializing victims of the Holocaust. He studied for several years at the Kunstnijverheids school in Haarlem and then studied sculpture at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam, where he was taught by the sculptor Jan Bronner. His first monumental commissions came mainly from the Catholic […]

Eliphalet Frazer Andrews (1835 - 1915)

Portrait Painter. Known for his portraits of Martha Washington, Jefferson, Buchanan, Jackson, Taylor, Johnson, and Garfield, all of which are in the White House. (bio by: Laurie)  Family links:  Spouses:  Mary Emma Andrews (1835 – 1889)*  Marietta Fauntleroy Minnigerode Andrews (1869 – 1932)*  Children:  Mary Lord Andrews (1896 – 1918)*  Eliphalet Fraser Andrews (1898 – […]

Hiroshige Ando (1970 - 1858)

Painter. Generally known as “Hiroshige,” he was born in Edo (Tokyo) as a member of the Tanaka samurai family and subsequently adopted by the Ando family. He studied under Toyokuni Utagawa and Toyohiro Utagawa, taking the name “Hiroshige” in 1911, while his mentors allowed him to take their Utagawa name as well. He developed images […]

Brad Jay Anderson (1924 - 2015)

Cartoonist. He is best remembered for his popular comic strip “Marmaduke” that featured a zany lovable Great Dane dog owned by the Winslow family. Born Bradley Jay Anderson, he began drawing at an early age and sold his first cartoon to Flying Aces magazine when he was 15 years old. Following his graduation from high […]

Totty Ames (1922 - 2015)

Actress. Born Winifred Cope, after graduating high school she immediately got on a bus and went to Hollywood, California. It wasn’t long before her good looks was discovered by area photographers and she was hired to model clothing, swim wear, lingerie and glamour magazine ads. As a popular pin-up girl, she was named many titles, […]

Alexander Anderson, Jr (1920 - 2010)

Cartoonist. Best remembered as the creator of the cartoon characters “Rocky and Bullwinkle”. In 1938 he began his career in animation working with his uncle Paul Terry at New York’s Terrytoons, the studio that turned out “Mighty Mouse”, “Heckle and Jeckle”, and other theatrical shorts. After serving in the US Navy during World War II, […]

Axel Amuchástegui (1970 - 2002)

Artist. An acclaimed naturalist painter, he illustrated a number of books on nature, including “Pájaros Sudamericanos,” “Algunos Pájaros y Mamíferos de Norteamérica” and “Algunos Pájaros y Mamíferos de Africa.”

Lee Judah Ames (1921 - 2011)

Artist, Illustrator. He was regarded as one of the first generation of modern artists of comic book illustration and comic art instruction. In the summer of 1938, he got his first job at a sign advertising agency in New York City. After his High School graduation in 1939, he entered a contest the Disney organization […]

Ezra Ames (1768 - 1836)

Artist.  He was born in Massachusetts but moved with his family to Staatsburg, New York when he was a young child.  He returned to Massachusetts settling in Worcester where he was a successful furniture and carriage painter.  It was here that he began to experiment with painting portraits, specializing in miniatures.  In 1795 he moved […]

José Amérigo Salazar (1915 - 1988)

Artist. He was born in Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana. He studied with the future painters Francisco Lozano, Armando Ramón Vivó, and his teachers were Ricardo Verde Rubio, Vicente Beltrán Grimal and Josep Renau, among others. Among his works “Mujer en la Ventana,” “Silencio” and “Desnudo de Mujer.” He died in his hometown.  (bio by: José L […]

Ambrós “Miguel” Ambrosio Zaragoza (1912 - 1992)

Illustrator. He was born in Albuixech, Valencia. He is fondly remembered for all a generation of childrens for his character “El Capitán Trueno,” created along with the writer Víctor Mora. He also illustrated the comics “El Caballero Fantasma” and “El Corsario de Hierro.” In 1989, he was awarded with the prestigious Saló del Comic de […]

Gustinus Ambrosi (1893 - 1975)

Artist, Poet. Born August Arthur Ambrosi, he was an accomplished musician, but it was his sculptures that brought him early recognition, and he is now considered one of Austria’s greatest sculptors. He specialized in portraits; his work includes, among hundreds of others, busts of Richard Wagner, Gerhard Hauptmann, Friedrich Nietzsche, Benito Mussolini, Anton Wildgans, Stefan […]

Billie Allen (1925 - 2015)

Actress. A versatile performer, she is remembered as one of the first black artists to achieve success on Broadway and to have a regular role in a television series. Born Wilhelmina Louise Allen, she was raised in Richmond’s West End, attended local schools as well as Hampton University, and in 1943 moved to New York […]

Manuel Encarnacion Amador Torreros (1869 - 1952)

Artist, Diplomat. He is best recognized as the designer of the Panamanian flag. Amador studied in Cartagena, Colombia and the United States, receiving his degree in accounting, before taking a position in the Treasury Department. Following independence of the Republic in 1903, he was appointed Minister of Finance. From 1904 until 1908, he served as […]

Barbara Jo “Vera Vague” Allen (1906 - 1974)

Actress. She is best remembered as ‘Vera Vague’ the spinster character she created and portrayed on radio and in films during the 1940s and 1950s. As ‘Vera Vague’, she popularized the catch phrase “You dear boy!” Born in New York City, New York, her acting skills first appeared in school plays. She traveled to Paris, […]

Mathias J. Alten (1871 - 1938)

Artist. He was an impressionistic painter who lived most of his life in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He ground all of his own paints, which gave his paintings a rich hue that could not be duplicated. He used a palette knife to highlight his paintings. He painted portraits, still-life, landscapes, and seascapes.  Family links:  Spouse:  Bertha […]

Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836 - 1912)

Artist. Born in Holland, he moved to London, England when in his mid-30s, in 1869. He became very much part of the English establishment, gaining a knighthood in 1899. A genial and uncomplicated man, Alma-Tadema enjoyed his success and money, living in extravagant life-style. His life was an enormously sucessful one in which he was […]

Elizabeth Allan (1908 - 1990)

Actress. She is credited with appearing in 46 films and 25 stage roles. In 1934 she moved to Hollywood where she appeared in several films, the best known being ‘Mrs Copperfield/Murdstone’ in “David Copperfield,” ‘Lucy Manette’ in “A Tale of Two Cities” and and as ‘Nichette’ in “Camille” with Greta Garbo in 1936. In 1939, […]

Laura Theresa Alma-Tadema (1852 - 1909)

Artist. The second wife of noted Dutch-born artist Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, she had a significant career as a painter in her own right. Raised in London, Laura met the somewhat older Alma-Tadema in late 1869 at the home of artist Ford Madox Brown. Lawrence, who had just lost his wife, was apparently taken with her, […]

Washington Allston (1779 - 1843)

Artist,  Poet. After studying at Harvard, Allston was admitted to the Royal Academy in London. He practiced as a painter in Europe, where he met with great success and spent time with notable individuals like Washington Irving and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. His wife died shortly after his first collection of poetry was published; a few […]

Helen Allingham (1848 - 1926)

Artist. A noted watercolourist of the late 19th Century, she is primarily remembered for her images of the Surrey countryside. Born Helen Mary Elizabeth Paterson, she was raised initally in Altrincham, Cheshire, then following her father’s 1862 death during a diphtheria epidemic, the victims of which he was helping to treat, in Birmingham. Her talent […]

Viridiana Alatriste (1963 - 1982)

Actress. She began her career in the theater, appearing in “Annie es un tiro” with her mother, the actress Silvia Pinal, “La Fierecilla Domada,” “Isabel de Inglaterra” and “Tartufo o el Impostor.” In motion pictures she worked in “La Seducción” (1980) and “La Combi Asesina” (1982). On television, she appeared in series “Honrarás a los […]

James Pinckney Alley (1885 - 1934)

Cartoonist. Known for creating the character ‘Hambone’ in “Hambone’s Meditations.” Author of “Distinguised Folks.” (bio by: Laurie)  Family links:  Parents:  John Pinckney Alley (1840 – 1891)  Malinda Catherine Everette Lane Alley Jones (1844 – 1931)  Spouse:  Nona Buchanan Lane Alley (1887 – 1975)*  Children:  Elizabeth Alley Ahlgren (1909 – 1992)*  Kathryn Alley Conaway (1911 – […]

Josef Albers (1888 - 1976)

Artist. He gained renown as an abstract artist, color-theorist, teacher and author. Beginning his career in Weimar, Germany, he taught at the famous Bauhaus school of fine arts. He fled from Nazi Germany to the United States in 1933, and taught at Black Mountain College in North Carolina. After teaching at Yale University, he became […]