Emile Albert Gruppe (American 1896 - 1978)

Emile Albert Gruppé was an American painter born in Rochester, New York. He spent the early years of his life in the Netherlands, when his father, Charles Paul Gruppe, painted with the acclaimed Hague School and was a dealer for Dutch painters in the US. The family returned permanently to the states around 1913 when rumblings of World War I were brewing. All of Emile’s siblings established themselves in the arts.

Gruppe studied at the National Academy, NYC, and the Académie de la Grande Chaumière, Paris. His artistic career began in 1915 but was briefly interrupted in 1917 by a year’s assignment in the United States Navy. His studio was in Gloucester, MA, where he became a noted member of the Cape Ann School of artists.

Although Gruppe is best known for his variety of impressionistic landscapes, he also painted figures and portraits. Gruppe was largely inspired by Monet. He was the teacher of other famous artists including oil painter Otis Cook of Rockport, MA, Bill Wray, Nathalie Nordstrand, and other painters.

Gruppe’s paintings are often seen in major auction galleries – Sotheby’s, Christies, and Skinners – where prices for his works have risen steadily and exceed most Rockport School artists. Gruppe is among the most prominent of Rockport, MA artists, a group that that includes: Anthony Thieme, Marguerite Pierson, Antonio Cirino, W. Lester Stevens, and Aldro Hibbard.

Recent Examples at Auction