Frank Wilbert Stokes

Frank Wilbert Stokes, also known as Frank Stokes, Frank W. Stokes and F. W. Stokes [http://americanart.si.edu/search/artist_bio.cfm?ID=4660] , Smithsonian American Art Museum, Stokes entry] (November 27 1858 - 1955) [http://cybermuse.beaux-arts.ca/cybermuse/search/artist_e.jsp?iartistid=5254] , Cybermuse Beaux-Arts, Stokes entry] was an American sketch artist and painter who specialized in illustrations of arctic and antarctic themes. A large collection of his works is now in the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Biography

Stokes was born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA in 1858.

He studied art at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts under Thomas Eakins [http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/database/art.asp?aid=83&page=3] , ArtRenewal.org, Eakins entry] . Later on Stokes spent nine years in England and France where he in Paris studied at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts under Jean-Léon Gérôme, the Académie Colarossi under Raphaël Collin and the Académie Julian under Gustave Boulanger [http://newdeal.feri.org/guides/tnguide/ch17.htm] , Tennessee A guide to the state, Stokes entry] [http://www.askart.com/AskART/artists/biography.aspx?artist=24713] , AskArt.com, Stokes entry] . Besides classical training in style and technique he also was influenced by impressionist style.

Stoke participated in expeditions to northern Greenland under Robert Peary during 1886 and 1892 - 1894 .

In 1902 he joined the Swedish Antarctic Expedition under Otto Nordenskjöld. [http://www.antarctic-circle.org/fox.htm] , Antarctic-Circle.org, Stokes entry]

In 1909 and 1910 Stokes completed mural decorations at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City [http://images.library.amnh.org/photos/ptm/search/find?view=grid&ipp=150&q=murals+F.+W.+Stokes&x=15&y=6] , American Museum of Natural History, Stokes entry] .

During 1925 - 1926 he joined the Amundsen-Ellsworth expeditions.

Stokes had a number of exhibitions during his career, some which were held at the "Brooklyn Institute Museum of Arctic and Antarctic Pictures" in 1894, the "Art Institute of Chicago" February 27 through March 16 1900 [http://www.artic.edu/aic/libraries/pubs/1900/AIC1900Stokes_comb.pdf] , Art Institute of Chicago, Stokes exhibition] and in "New York City" December 21 through January 22 1925-1926.

Stokes died in New York City, New York in 1955.

Works by Stokes

Sketches (selected)

* "King Oscar II Land" (Jan 20, 1902)
* "An Iceberg off Palmer Island" (Jan 20, 1902)
* "Weddell Sea" (Jan 31, 1902)
* "Cape Gordon, Erebus and Terror Gulf" (Feb 10, 1902)

Oilpaintings (selected)

* "Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego" (1902)
* "Sunrise, Atlantic Ocean" (1903)
* "Return of Commander Byrd and Floyd Bennett from the North Pole" (1926)
* "Departure of the "Norge" for the North Pole" (1926)

References

External links

* [http://www.askart.com/AskART/artists/biography.aspx?artist=24713 Short biography of Frank Wilbert Stokes]
* [http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?pos=3&intObjectID=2777946&sid= Some sketches by F. W. Stokes]
* [http://www.hardenstudios.com/Antiques/Paintings/itempages/frank_wilbert_stokes_painting.htm Some paintings by F. W. Stokes]
* [http://www.antarctic-circle.org/stokes.pdf F. W. Stokes notes on the Swedish Antarctic expedition]