Severin Roesen (circa 1815-1872)
Severin Roesen was born in Germany circa 1815 and came to New York City around 1847. Roesen was a devoted still life painter throughout his career. His prominence in American Art history was underscored by historian William H. Gerdts, who wrote “Roesen appears to have introduced a form of still life painting into American art which was…almost unknown here, at a propitious time for such an introduction…his still lifes were often large, bountiful works: luscious combinations of fruit or flowers, or both…the fruit resting on marble ledges…” Roesen died, a “genial, though often alcoholic, disheveled and improverished painter” somewhere in Pennsylvania, perhaps Williamsport, after leaving his wife and three children three years earlier. For further reference, consult “American Still Life Painting” by William H. Gerdts, Praeger Publishers, New York 1971.