Ralph Albert Blakelock

Ralph Albert Blakelock (* October 15, 1847 in New York City, New York; † August 9, 1919 in Elizabethtown, New York) was an American painter of the Romantic period.

Life

Unlike other American artist of his time, who traveled to their training and inspiration Europe, Blakelock spent many years of his life in the Wild West and explored and painted the local area. Because of the lack of success, it was not easy for him to feed his wife and eight children.

Back in his native New York, he was insane. Having seen it in banks in an attempt to redeem himself painted dollar bills, you pointed him to a mental institution. Ironically came Blakelock in this way in the headlines, so that his paintings sold better.

One of his many pictures which bear the title of Moonlight ( Moonlight ), 1917 achieved the highest price ( $ 20,000 ), which was ever paid previously for a work by a living American artist at auction.

Typical of Blakelocks paintings are all overflowing light, especially the moonlight, the contrasts between light and dark areas and an extraordinary attention to detail.

Blakelocks images play an important role in Paul Auster's novel Moon over Manhattan.

Quote

• "The artist is nothing, his art is everything. " - Ralph Albert Blakelock by Glyn Vincent, p 251