TidesNet—Online Collections Entry Detail

DescriptionA large oil on board painting (32” high x 35.75” wide) of North Head, Grand Manan, New Brunswick by American painter, William Lester Stevens. It dates to about 1960. The Tides Institute raised the necessary funds to acquire the painting in 2014 from the Altermann Galleries of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Stevens was born in Rockport, Massachusetts in 1888 and first studied painting with the marine painter, Parker Perkins, of Rockport. Later he studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. During the First World War, Stevens joined the U.S. Army and was sent to Europe where after the war he was able to study master works of art in the museums of Europe. Returning to the U.S., Stevens had a one man show of his works at the Boston Art Club and had one of his paintings selected for the Corcoran Gallery’s annual exhibition of contemporary American art. Stevens then returned to Rockport and in 1921 helped found, along with many other artists, the Rockport Art Association. During the summers he taught at Rockport and also at Boston University and Princeton. In 1934, he left Rockport and moved to Springfield, and then to Conway, Massachusetts where he lived and painted for the rest of his life. During the summer months he made trips to Vinalhaven and then to Lubec in Maine as well as Campobello Island and Grand Manan Island in New Brunswick. Stevens ran an art school for awhile on Grand Manan. He died in 1969. William Lester Stevens, "North Head" oil on board. Signed lower right "W. Lester Stevens N.A. A.W.S". Inscribed en verso "North Head Grand Manan W Lester Stevens N.A.". Board: 32"H x 35.75"W; Frame: 41.25"H x 45.5"W. Purchased in 2014 from Altermann Galleries of Santa Fe, New Mexico.