This biography from the Archives of AskART:
|  A highly successful 19th-century marine painter, Frank Rehn determined
to be exclusively American in his fine art painting, although French
Impressionism heavily influenced his style. Ironically he was
"one of the first Americans to introduce the Impressionist style of
painting to his fellow countrymen." (428) Because of his dedication to
being 'pure' American, he avoided going abroad for further art study
beyond his schooling from age 18 at the Pennsylvania Academy of the
Fine Arts with Christian Schussele. His course work included
portraiture, marine, still life and figure painting.
Rehn was born in Philadelphia. After finishing his training at
the Pennsylvania Academy, he supported himself with portrait commission
work and by selling terra cotta plates. He also painted many
landscapes and still lifes, and won exhibition awards for these
subjects. However, a trip to the New Jersey shore turned his
interest to marine painting, especially seascapes. It is likely
that a major influence was the suggestion of fellow artist Russell
Smith that Rehn focus on marine painting.
He moved to New York City in 1881, and with other artists set up a
studio at the Hotel Chelsea, a location he occupied for the remainder
of his life. Painting with Childe Hassam, John Twachtmann and
William Merritt Chase, he summered in Magnolia, Massachusetts where he
died in 1914.
Memberships included the American Watercolor Society, National Academy of Design, Salmagundi Club and Lotus Club.
Sources include:
Michael David Zellman, 300 Years of American Art
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Biography from Newman Galleries:
| Frank Knox Morton Rehn was a painter of landscapes, seascapes and
portraiture. Born in Philadelphia in 1848, he studied at the
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Rehn was elected an Associate
Member of the National Academy of Design in 1898 and a full Academician
in 1909. He was also an Associate of the American Watercolor Society,
and a member of the New York Watercolor Club.
The artist was awarded First Prize, St. Louis Exposition, 1881;
Honorable Mention, Paris Universal Exposition, 1900; and a Bronze
Medal, Pan-American Exposition, Buffalo, New York, 1901.
He died in 1914 in Massachusetts.
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Frank Rehn is also mentioned in these AskART essays:
San Francisco Panama-Pacific Exhibition 1915
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