Vintage Key West Oil on Board by Gerald Leake, Associate National Academy

Description: A rare, signed oil on board by an important early Key West artist. LEAKE, Gerald A.N.A. Key West Gerald Leake was born in London, England in 1884. In 1905 he became a professional artist. His first painting submitted to the Royal Academy in London in 1909 was accepted and sold. He was elected to membership in the Royal Society of British Artists in 1913. Leake came to the United States in the early 1920’s, beginning a distinguished career as an American illustrator. An Associate of the National Academy of Design, Leake received many awards including the National Academy Gold Medal, the Gold Medal of the Allied Artists of America, the Salmagundi Prize, and the Shaw Prize. His commercial artwork included the rosy cheeked children on Coca Cola billboards, and Lucky Strike illustrations.Leake moved to Key West shortly after World War II, and in 1950 opened the Leake Art School on Flagler Street and Second Avenue. He lived on a houseboat docked on Garrison Bight and became harbormaster. During the Navy Charity Carnival in February 1951 Leake painted portrait with all proceeds going to a local charity. In February of 1952 as part of the Semana Alegre, or “Week of Joy”, Leake’s portrait of a typical “old time Key Wester” was presented to the Key West Art and Historical Society. In 1957 the Key West Citizen called him, “One of the island’s established artists and instructors, still the leader in seascapes, with explosions of light on water and the effect of wind poured from dazzling clouds.” Kay Kersey profiled Leake in her column Painting The Town, in the Citizen, November 17, 1957, “There are many newcomers among us who do not realize that we have, in our town, an artist of very considerable acclaim. Gerald Leake came to America from England some thirty years ago and proceeded to capture a $1,000 dollar prize with the first painting he exhibited in this country. Several New York galleries then became interested in handling his work…. He is a very modest, unassuming man in the light of the success he has had in illustrative creation and serious art. He no longer keeps in touch with todays’ art world…. Most of his illustrative years were spent in New York where he worked for such magazines as Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Good Housekeeping, McCall’s and others. He says, ‘I worked under constant pressure, but the illustrations for advertisements were the worst, as far as deadline goes.’ Leake was commissioned to do commercial art for internationally popular products such as a popular soft drink (Coca Cola) and a brand of cigarettes…. Anyone who has seen Gerald Leake’s work, needs no further description; but for those who haven’t, I emphasize that here is a man, honest and sincere, with integrity of purpose in every brush stroke…. Here is a rare person who does not enjoy talking about himself…. He admires Degas, Lautrec, Manet and Van Gogh…. Leake is a quiet man who seems content with the solitary life he has made for himself on his boat at the Yacht Club. There is a dignified old-world charm about him that is very appealing. He is now resuming his duties as teacher for the winter season. I would say that his pupils can consider themselves fortunate to study under the guidance of this fine artist.” Leake is listed In Who’s Who In American Art; The Artists Bluebook: Dictionary of American Painters; American Illustrator. Born: 1884, England. Died: 1975. Membership: Key West Society of Art and Science; Royal Society of Arts; Royal Society of British Artists; American Watercolor Society; Grand Central Art Galleries; Salmagundi Club, NYC; National Arts Club; Allied Artists of America; Mural Painters of America; Royal Society of Arts; Associate of the National Academy of Design. Exhibits: Salmagundi Club, 1st prize, 1923, Plympton Prize, 1926, Shaw Prize, 1927; Allied Artists of America, 1929, Gold Medal; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 1925-1934; Royal Academy of Art, London; Salons of America; Art Institute of Chicago; National Academy of Design, New York City, 1934, 1937; Mar-Ed Dress Shop, January 1950, Portrait of Lee Pollack, who played the feminine lead in the Key West Player drama, Laura; Noble's Art Center, Key West, 1950's; Key West Art and Historical Society, East Martello Gallery, February 1951, Garrison Bight; Robinson Galleries, Miami Beach, June 1952; All Key West Artists Exhibit, East Martello Tower, November 1955, Morning Light, On The Ways. Key West Art and Historical Society, East Martello Tower, March 1957; East Martello Gallery, November 1957, Rendezvous, Unnamed Lady; Key West Art and Historical Society, Members’ Art Show, East Martello Gallery and Museum, April 1958, Place of Honor, Close Hauled, Antoine the Boat Builder; Marathon Montmartre Outdoor Art Exhibit, February 12-15, 1959; Granville Galleries, Miami, February 1961, landscapes and seascapes in oil.

Price: 1000 USD

Location: Sarasota, Florida

End Time: 2025-01-06T20:21:50.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD