Sergei Alexander Nelke (December 14, 1894 — August 14, 1974) was an
Estonian-American artist in the mid to late 20th century. He is primarily known as marine and landscape artist specializing in
square rig
Square rig is a generic type of sail and rigging arrangement in which the primary driving sails are carried on horizontal spars which are perpendicular, or square, to the keel of the vessel and to the masts. These spars are called ''yards'' and ...
ged sailing vessels.
[Peter Hastings Falk (1999). Who Was Who in American Art. Sound View Press. .]
Early life
Nelke was the middle of three sons to Karl and Anna Nelke. His father was a carriage maker and worked on the ceremonial carriage that was built for
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...
when she visited Russia in 1894. After completing his secondary education in 1910, Nelke began his career as a seaman working as a ships carpenter, eventually rising to the rank of
2nd Mate. Nelke became an expert ships carpenter and rigger and acquired a thorough knowledge of the sea and sailing vessels from all over the world.
[Mallett, Daniel Trowbridge (1976), Mallett's Index of Artists: International-Biographical. Bath ng Kingsmead Reprints. .] Nelke would spend over fifteen years at sea before finally settling in
Brooklyn, NY
Brooklyn () is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Kings County is the most populous Administrative divisions of New York (state)#County, county i ...
, near his brother Waldemar. He became a
naturalized
Naturalization (or naturalisation) is the legal act or process by which a non-citizen of a country may acquire citizenship or nationality of that country. It may be done automatically by a statute, i.e., without any effort on the part of the in ...
citizen of the United States in 1945.
Career as an artist
Nelke was primarily self taught as an artist and began painting by using cut up sails as canvas while out at sea. After settling in America, Nelke continued working as a carpenter and painted out of his studio on Baltic Street in
Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
. He studied for a time under fellow marine painter
William C. Ehrig.
His background as a seaman and ship builder allowed him to produce highly detailed and accurate paintings of seascapes and nautical vessels. He was considered an authority in the field of
maritime art
Marine art or maritime art is a form of figurative art (that is, painting, drawing, printmaking and sculpture) that portrays or draws its main inspiration from the sea. Maritime painting is a genre that depicts ships and the sea—a genre part ...
and also in the detail of sailing ships (especially rigging) and their construction. He was often consulted on high-end ship models.
This attracted interest in the commercial market and Nelke was commissioned to paint several pieces which would be reproduced on items such as prints, playing cards and jigsaw puzzles to be sold to the public.
Nelke sat on the committee for the Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit,
which was started by
Vernon Carroll Porter Vernon Carroll Porter, artist, was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1896. He studied at the Art Students League, Grand Central School Academy, the Mechanics Institute and Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute and was known for his surreal landscape oil paintings ...
in 1931 and was also a former director of the Brooklyn Outdoor Art Show. He was a member of the Salons of America, and exhibited his work with them in 1934 and 1936. He also exhibited with The
Society of Independent Artists in 1934, 1936, 1938, 1940 and 1944.
[Davenport, Ray (2003), ''Davenport's Art Reference: The Gold Edition''. LTB Gordonsart Inc. .]
At the age of 79, Nelke died in his Brooklyn, NY apartment on August 14, 1974.
[ ] He is buried near his brother Waldemar in
Wappingers Falls, NY.
References
*Dunbier, Roger (2005), ''The Artists Bluebook''. AskART.com.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nelke, Alexander
1894 births
1974 deaths
People from Haljala Parish
People from the Governorate of Estonia
Estonian emigrants to the United States
20th-century American painters
American male painters
American marine artists
People from the Bronx
20th-century Estonian painters
20th-century Estonian male artists
20th-century American male artists