Biography from Adobe Gallery:
| But for his accidental absence from a famous historic photograph of the Taos Society of Artists (TSA), of which he was a very early member (Associate Member, 1917; Full Member 1918), Julius Rolshoven would be considerably better known today.
Rolshoven’s artistic ability was acknowledged to be equal to or better than the other members of the Taos Society and he was, in fact, invited to join the TSA before such luminaries as Ernest Hennings, Walter Ufer, Victor Higgins and Kenneth Adams.
Rolshoven lived in Taos and painted in New Mexico for a short time only, from 1916 to 1920. During these years he was the senior and most experienced member of the TSA, followed by J. H. Sharp who was one year younger. In late 1920, Rolshoven left Taos to return to his former home in Italy, where he spent the rest of his life.
His work is known for its bold, fluid brushwork, graphic composition and saturated, light-filled color palette. Rolshoven was considered particularly accomplished in the medium of pastels, and his striking Taos and Santa Fe pastel pieces are some of his freshest and most beautiful works.
Compared with the other members of the Taos Society, almost all of whom painted in New Mexico for decades, Rolshoven’s works are quite scarce, difficult to find and rarely available for sale.
|
Biography from AskART:
| Born in Detroit, Michigan, Julius Rolshoven first became an established painter in the East and then from 1916, a distinguished painter of Southwestern portraits and landscapes, known for his effective use of light and color.
He was the son of a German jeweler and learned designing by working in his father's workshop. He was inspired in an art career by seeing the art exhibits at the 1876 Philadelphia Exhibition.
In New York City, having been denied admission to the National Academy, he attended Cooper Union Academy and studied with Ernst Plassman, and the following year, 1878, traveled to Europe where he studied at the Academie of Dusseldorf and the Royal Academy of Munich with Frank Duveneck.
In Paris, he was a student of Adolphe Bouguereau, and by 1890 was teaching art in Paris, and by 1896, in London. He traveled and painted extensively in Europe, and in 1926, was elected an Associate Academician of the National Academy in New York.
He married Anna Chickering of the piano manufacturing family, but she died several years later, so he returned to Italy to live. With the outbreak of World War I, he returned to America, and in 1914 first went to the American West, becoming interested in the Indians of New Mexico when he and his second wife, Harriette Blazo, honeymooned in Santa Fe. In 1916, they moved to Santa Fe where they lived the remainder of their lives with frequent trips to Italy.
He had a studio in the Palace of the Governors and found much challenge experimenting with the effects of light on portraits of Indians, many whom became good friends. He decided the outdoor light was too harsh, and began painting his outdoor works in a large white tent to get the subdued effects he wanted. He used the "Old Master" techniques he had learned in Europe.
Sources:
Dean Porter and Teresa Ebie, Taos Artists and Their Patrons
Michael David Zellman, 300 Years of American Art
|
| ** If you discover credit omissions or have additional information to add, please let us know at registrar@AskART.com. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Julius Rolshoven is also mentioned in these AskART essays:
San Francisco Panama-Pacific Exhibition 1915
Taos Pre 1940
|
|
|
|