William Trost Richards (1833-1905)

Born in Philadelphia, William Trost Richards did not get off to the audacious start one might associate with a successful artist of the 19th century. It is said he enjoyed drawing from a very early age, but all childhood fancies were put on hold when Richards' father died in 1847. At the tender age of fourteen Richards dropped out of high school and took a job designing metal fixtures to support his family. This act of responsibility beyond his years was a sign of the ambition and determination Richards would use to his benefit in the coming years.
At 17 years old, while still working in metal fixtures, Richards began to study privately. along with eventual contemporary William Stanley Haseltine, under the famed German landscape artist Paul Weber. It could not have been a better time as he spent the next few years sketching the Hudson River Valley with artists such as Frederic Edwin Church, John Kensett and Jasper Cropsey; an all-star team of artisans by today's standards. Richards was particularly influenced by Church and Kensett. Along with fellow student William Haseltine, Richards followed in the footsteps of most great artisans and made the trip to study in Europe. Upon returning he eventually settled in Newport, Rhode Island. He became famous for his paintings of land and sea, particularly for his seascapes of the eastern coastline. As a gallery in southern New Jersey we take great pride in the fact that some of Richards' finest seascapes were painted of the New Jersey coastlines of Atlantic City and Cape May.
Richards style can be summed up in one word: meticulous. As a member of the Society of Truth in Art, Richards painted with an almost painful amount of attention to detail. His seascapes are a prime example, leaving the viewer with no doubt as to the expanse of the shoreline, the dampness of the sand, and the affects of the weather on wave conditions and debris left by storms and tides.

Severin Roesen (c.1815 - 1872)

We know a great deal about the magnificent brush work, attention to detail and refined palette of Severin Roesen. Oddly enough, the details of his life that should be the easiest to obtain are what we know the least about. What is not in question, however, is his enormous talent and the mark he left on the art world.

Roesen's birth is the first of those small mysteries in that he was either born in 1815 or 1816 in Cologne, Germany. It is assumed that he studied porcelain and enamel painting in the great German tradition. To compliment his skill, Roesen was also a man of impeccable timing. A successful German art exhibition in New York in 1847 had created a great demand for the kind of fine art Roesen was accustomed to producing. Settling in New York less than a year after the exhibition, Roesen had no trouble creating a comfortable living for his family. A decade later Roesen's sense of timing once again shone through as he began to paint in and eventually moved to Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The town had experienced a tremendous economic boost, as wealth was created due to a very successful logging industry. The demand for Roesen's works and skill as an instructor combined with the expendable monies of the people in the area once again ensured a very comfortable living for his family. Roesen cemented his financial success with the use of botanical subjects and painting on oval stretched canvas, the popular choice of the time.

Strange as it is that we do not know the exact year of Roesen's birth, it is even more odd what happened surrounding his death. We don't know when he died because in 1872 he seemingly vanished into thin air. What he left behind is a body of works of the highest quality. The importance of Roesen's contributions to the art of still life painting, especially as it pertains to the use of floral subjects are unquestioned. The desire for his work is just as high today as it was in the 19th century, although the price jumped since then. In 2004 one of his pieces sold at auction for over 1.5 million dollars!

Walter Emerson Baum (1884-1956)

Walter Emerson Baum was born in September of 1884 to Mary Ellen and Harvey Baum of Sellersville, Pennsylvania. The town of Sellersville is located in Bucks County, making Baum the only noted "Bucks County Impressionist" to actually lay claim to that area as his place of birth. His formal art training began when he studied Fraktur under Isaac Hilker. Fraktur are special documents such as birth or wedding certificates decorated with ink and watercolor. Baum's interest and involvement in Fraktur making acted as an early sign of a commitment to his community and his German American heritage that would hold firm the remainder of his life.
In 1904 he began to study under William B.T. Trego, as his apprentice. A year later he attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts where he would study under the famed instructors Thomas Anshutz and Daniel Garber. It was Anshutz that had shifted the Academy's focus away from staunch realism and allowed for more exploration in style. Baum's studies and influences forged his artistic beliefs and bold impressionist style. Working en plein air, Baum wasted little time combining large amounts of pigment with seemingly larger brush strokes. His works depicting natural settings, especially those in winter, would prove over time to be of great impact on the arts.
In his lifetime Baum was honored with over thirty major awards, including the Jennie Sesnan Gold Medal from the Pennsylvania Academy and the Medal of Honor from the National Arts Club. Also during his lifetime Baum's works were featured in over one hundred and fifty museum exhibitions. His personal accomplishments culminated with the establishments of both the Baum School of Art and the Allentown Art Museum. Baum's endearing legacy is that a love of art will enhance the life of anyone willing to pursue it. To view more of Walter Baum's impressive works please click on his name in the Links section.

New Stan Sperlaks Available Now

We have new works by Stan Sperlak in the gallery. Stan continues to impress us all with his ever improving skill at capturing pure light and vibrant color in natural settings. His pallet opens your eyes to the subtle brilliance of a South Jersey marsh, or the magic inside of seemingly ordinary clouds. View them in person or online at www.giltcomplex.com.

2008 Avalon Art Exhibition

Plans for the 2008 Avalon Art Exhibition have been set in motion! We are tremendously proud to be bringing this event to life, benefitting Children's Hospital. This outdoor exhibit will run the weekend of August 2nd and 3rd in beautiful Avalon, New Jersey. Final details are being hammered out and it looks as though we will have enough space for 60 to 70 artists. As soon as we have all the details in place an application form will be available to download from our website www.giltcomplex.com or you can call (609)967-1100 for more information. The artists participating will be selected by a jury so prepare your best press kit now! Also we will not be charging participating artists a commission for sold works. That's right, you keep all the money from selling your art! We will be taking an admission fee at the gate from the art collectors and patrons, the proceeds of which will go to our selected charity Children's Hospital. Please contact us as soon as possible and become part of this wonderful event.

Sale at The Gilt Complex!

We are having a Valentine's Day sale on selected items through February 17th! Turn of the century oil paintings, watercolors, portraits, prints and much more at 20-50% off! We also have discounts on works by currently producing artists such as Stan Sperlak and Lance Balderson. Come see what we have to offer or inquire by email or phone. Remember you only have a month to get something for that special someone at these prices.

Art and Frame Conservation

As conservators with over sixty years of experience The Gilt Complex offers museum quality conservation and restoration work on all kinds of paintings, paper, photos and frames. We execute the work not only for our valued customers but also offer conservation on a wholesale level to galleries all over New Jersey and into New York and Pennsylvania. For 2008 and eight we have committed ourselves to establishing as many new gallery relationships as we can in an effort to expand our wholesale operation. If you are a gallery that has to turn away potential business because you do not offer conservation please contact us. Let us show you how we can all increase our businesses together!