Deaths on April 17

Robert Vickrey, American artist and author (b. 1926)

Robert Remsen Vickrey (August 26, 1926 – April 17, 2011) was a distinguished American artist and author whose creative journey was primarily rooted in Massachusetts. He carved a unique niche in the art world through his profound mastery and revitalization of the ancient medium of egg tempera, a technique he wielded with remarkable precision and evocative power throughout his career.

The Enduring Appeal of Egg Tempera

Vickrey’s artistic path was notably distinct due to his unwavering commitment to egg tempera, a medium that predates oil painting and flourished during the Renaissance. This meticulous technique involves mixing ground pigments with an egg yolk binder, resulting in paint that dries quickly, offering superb luminosity, crisp detail, and a unique matte finish. For Vickrey, this ancient method was not merely a choice but a deliberate embrace of its inherent qualities, which perfectly lent themselves to the clarity and intricate detail characteristic of his vision. The medium’s ability to render light with an almost ethereal glow and to create fine, precise lines allowed him to achieve the sharp, almost photographic quality that defines many of his works, while simultaneously imbuing them with a sense of the otherworldly.

A World of Surreal Dreams and Evocative Imagery

The visual language of Robert Remsen Vickrey’s paintings is unmistakably his own, characterized by surreal, dreamlike visions that captivate and subtly disquiet the viewer. He possessed a remarkable ability to transform everyday subjects into profound meditations on time, memory, and the subconscious. His canvases often feature recurring motifs that have become synonymous with his style:

• Sunset Shadows of Bicycles: These images often evoke a sense of fleeting time, nostalgia, and perhaps a touch of solitude, as ordinary objects cast dramatically elongated, almost ghostly shadows against twilight landscapes.
• Nuns in Front of Mural-Painted Brick Walls: This striking juxtaposition combines figures of spiritual contemplation with the grittiness of urban decay or the rich textures of weathered surfaces. The nuns often appear solitary and contemplative, their traditional habits providing a stark contrast to their surroundings, inviting contemplation on faith, isolation, and urban life.
• Children Playing: Vickrey frequently depicted children, not always in idyllic settings, but often in scenes imbued with a subtle melancholy or an unsettling stillness. Their innocence is juxtaposed with the inherent complexities of the world around them, inviting viewers to ponder themes of vulnerability and the passage from childhood.

These elements, meticulously rendered in tempera, coalesce into narratives that hover between reality and illusion, inviting observers to delve into layers of meaning. His work is often described as magic realism, where familiar scenes are imbued with a sense of the uncanny, making the ordinary feel extraordinary and sometimes unsettling. Vickrey's art encourages a meditative engagement, prompting viewers to question perceptions and the subtle undercurrents of everyday existence.

FAQs About Robert Remsen Vickrey

What was Robert Remsen Vickrey's primary artistic medium?

Robert Remsen Vickrey was a master of egg tempera, an ancient painting medium known for its luminosity and fine detail, which he expertly employed throughout his career.

What themes are common in Vickrey's paintings?

His paintings are renowned for their surreal and dreamlike qualities, often featuring recurring motifs such as the elongated shadows of bicycles at sunset, nuns set against mural-painted brick walls, and children engaged in play. These elements combine to create evocative and often subtly melancholic narratives.

Why did Vickrey choose egg tempera over more contemporary mediums like oil paints?

Vickrey was drawn to egg tempera for its unique characteristics, including its ability to achieve crisp detail, remarkable luminosity, and a distinct matte finish. These qualities perfectly suited his meticulous style and his desire to render subjects with both hyper-realism and an ethereal quality.

Is Robert Remsen Vickrey considered a surrealist?

While his work often shares thematic elements with surrealism, such as dreamlike imagery and the juxtaposition of the ordinary with the uncanny, he is often categorized under American Realism or Magic Realism due to his precise, representational style applied to fantastic or psychological subject matter.

Where was Robert Remsen Vickrey based?

Robert Remsen Vickrey was primarily based in Massachusetts, where he lived and worked for much of his life, drawing inspiration from his surroundings.