Alexander Theobald Van Laer

Alexander Theobald Van Laer (1857–1920) was an American painter, born in Auburn, New York.

Early life and training

He studied at the Art Students League of New York, in the Netherlands under George Poggenbeek, and in the United States with Roger Swain Gifford.[1]

Work and style

He often exhibited with Adelaide Deming and Emily Vanderpoel.[2] Van Laer was a member of the Salmagundi Club New York from 1892 until his death and three times served as its president, from 1897 to 1898, 1889 to 1900 and again from 1905 to 1908.[3]

He taught for seven years at the Chautauqua Institute, and was a lecturer on art history at Smith College.[1] He also lectured at the National Academy of Design, the Art Institute of Chicago and what is now the Brooklyn Museum.[4]: 3  He primarily taught students in summer school settings and members of the public, rather than focusing on teaching in art schools where he would have gained disciples who would promote both his style and his reputation.[4]: 3 

He won a bronze medal at the 1904 St. Louis Exhibition.[1] A second source lists it as a gold medal.[4]: 25  He served as president of the American Watercolor Society from 1910 to 1914.[5]

Examples of his landscapes include:

When he died, American Art News characterized Van Laer as an "eminent American landscape painter" who was in "the front rank of modern American landscape painters."[4]: 3  However, within several decades of his death, his work was forgotten, as the interest amongst artists and art experts turned to abstract works.[4]: 3 

Exhibitions/museum collections

Alexander Theobald Van Laer: The Lost Landscapes. The Mattatuck Museum. December 10, 1998 - February 14, 1999.

  • Biographical Notes, a collection of biographical information and images of 50 American artists, containing information about the artist on page 48.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Alex. T. Van Laer, Painter, is Dead". The New York Times. March 24, 1920. p. 9. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  2. ^ "The Litchfield Historical Society". Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  3. ^ Centennial roster of the Salmagundi Club since its inception in 1871 to 1972.  (SCNY, New York, 1972, pp. 120, 131)
  4. ^ a b c d e Smith, Ann Y. (1998). Alexander Theobald Van Laer: The Lost Landscapes. Waterbury, CT: The Mattatuck Museum.
  5. ^ American Watercolor Society (1963). "Ninety-sixth Annual Exhibition Catalog" (PDF). Minnesota Historical Society: F. R. Meisch Papers.
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