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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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Nelke was born on December 14, 1894 to Karl and Anna Nelke and was the youngest of three sons (Boris and Waldemar). |
Nelke was born on December 14, 1894 to Karl and Anna Nelke and was the youngest of three sons (Boris and Waldemar). His father was a carriage maker and worked on the ceremonial carriage that was built for [[Queen Victoria]] when she visited [[Russia]] in 1894. Nelke also took up the trade (as did his brothers before him), working as a carpenter on sailing vessels. He eventually became an expert ships carpenter and [[rigger]]. He was considered an authority on the riggings of square rigged sailing vessels and was often consulted on high-end ship models. Nelke would spend over fifteen years at sea before finally settling in [[Brooklyn]], near his brother Waldermar and became a [[United_States_nationality_law#Naturalization|naturalized]] citizen of the [[United States]] in 1936. |
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==Career as an artist== |
==Career as an artist== |
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Revision as of 03:48, 9 November 2014
Alexander Nelke | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sergei Alexander Nelke December 14, 1894 |
| Died | August 14, 1974 (aged 79) |
| Known for | Artist, primarily seascapes and masted ship paintings. |
| Style | Realism |
oil on canvas, 1936
(From Nelke family private collection)
oil on canvas, circa 1938
(From Nelke family private collection)
Sergei Alexander Nelke (December 14, 1894 — August 8, 1974) was an Estonian-American artist in the mid to late 20th Century. He is primarily known for his seascapes and tall masted ship paintings.
Early life
Nelke was born on December 14, 1894 to Karl and Anna Nelke and was the youngest of three sons (Boris and Waldemar). His father was a carriage maker and worked on the ceremonial carriage that was built for Queen Victoria when she visited Russia in 1894. Nelke also took up the trade (as did his brothers before him), working as a carpenter on sailing vessels. He eventually became an expert ships carpenter and rigger. He was considered an authority on the riggings of square rigged sailing vessels and was often consulted on high-end ship models. Nelke would spend over fifteen years at sea before finally settling in Brooklyn, near his brother Waldermar and became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1936.
Career as an artist
Nelke was primarily self taught as an artist and began painting by using cut up sails as canvas out at sea. After settling in America, Nelke worked out of his studio in Brooklyn where he studied for a time under William C. Ehrig. His love of the sea and background in ship building allowed him to produce highly detailed and accurate paintings of seascapes and nautical vessels. This attracted interest in the commercial market and Nelke was commissioned to paint several pieces which would be on playing cards or prints.
Nelke was a member of the Salons of America, and exhibited his work with them in 1934 & 1936. He also exhibited with The Society of Independent Artists in 1934, 1936, 1938, 1940 and 1944.
At the age of 79, Nelke died in his Bronx, NY apartment on August 8, 1974. He is buried near his brother Waldmar in Wappingers Falls, NY.
References
- The Artists Bluebook, AskART.com Inc. - Dunbier, Lonnie Pierson (Editor) - 2005
- Davenport's Art Reference: The Gold Edition - Davenport, Ray - 2005
- Who Was Who in American Art, 1564-1975 - Falk, Peter Hastings (Editor) - 1999
- Index of Artists: International-Biographical - Mallett, Daniel Trowbridge - 1935