Ben Fenske

"Secret Beach, Shadows" 2023 impressionist plein air landscape in Long Island NY

2023

An oil painting of boats at rest as seen from Secret Beach in Sag Harbor. "Secret Beach" is the name Ben Fenske has given to his favorite painting spot in Sag Harbor, NY. A place he ...

Oil Painting of a rose bush, on a bright sunny day. A rose bush, backlit and mostly in shadow, dominates the foreground, adorned with spots of hot pink roses. Crisp blues and light p...

This wonderful scene depicts a bright blue river flowing through a rich forested area. Achieved through plein air, the vibrant blues, teals and whites of the water allow it to stand ...

Sunrise on Nantucket Island Fisherman Gazing at the Sky 1929 Nantucket Sunrise, a Fisherman is gazing at the sky by James Francis Barker (American, 1872 – 1950). In the style of Albert Pinkham Ryder (1847 - 1917) was active/lived in New York, Massachusetts. Albert Ryder is known for Romanticism-pastoral landscape painting. Barker has a heavy impasto and extensive brushwork throughout and captures American Post Impressionism with this early sunrise on Nantucket Island scene. Image, 10.25"H x 14.25"W Signed "J. F. Barker" dated "3/29" on Stretcher bar verso Signed James F. Barker on Linen verso James F. Barker’s lineage traces back to eleven of the original Nantucket settlers. He was born in 1872 in Keokuk, Iowa, the son of a railroad ticketing agent and a New Orleanian of Spanish and French extraction. His ancestors on his father's side included 11 of the 15 families who settled Nantucket in 1659. He graduated from Cornell University in 1893 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and spent another year studying Architecture at the graduate level. He briefly worked at D. H. Burnham & Company and Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. before switching to education, With a degree in mechanical engineering and graduate degree in architecture, his career was centered among institutes of higher learning. Barker was also a skilled painter and a talented photographer. Barker specialized in waterfront, wharf, and beach scenes. The artist exhibited his work during the summer months at the Eagle’s Wing Studio on Union Street, having named the studio after a steamer, which had been captained by his grandfather. James Francis Barker (1872 – 10 December 1950) was the second president of the Rochester Athenæum and Mechanics Institute, succeeding Carleton B. Gibson, from 1916–1919. He also pursued painting, pottery, metal working, and cabinet making. Gravestone in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Nantucket He was born in 1872 in Keokuk, Iowa, the son of a railroad ticketing agent and a New Orleanian of Spanish and French extraction. His ancestors on his father's side included 11 of the 15 families who settled Nantucket in 1659. He graduated from Cornell University in 1893 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and spent another year studying Architecture at the graduate level. He briefly worked at D. H. Burnham & Company and Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. before switching to education, becoming Superintendent of the Manual Training Department at East Division High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1897. He left in 1904 to pursue similar positions at Grand Rapids High School and the Hackley School in Muskegon, Michigan. In 1906, he participated in the formation of East Technical High School in Cleveland, Ohio and served as its first principal. He married the former Kate Spooner in 1897 and raised one daughter. After being widowed in the late 1930s, he married Josephine M...