Fern Coppedge

by Dr. Lori Verderame

Biography

Born in 1886, Harry Leith-Ross (1886-1973) studied at many of the world’s most select and prestigious art institutions of his day. For instance, Leith-Ross studied at the Academie Julian and the Art Students League. Harry Leith-Ross was inspired by his teachers as well as by his own teaching. Leith-Ross taught art at the University of Buffalo in Buffalo, New York; at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Artist colonies

Leith Ross was active within a variety of artist colonies and artistic circles. To name a few, Leith-Ross led classes dedicated to landscape painting at the famous artist enclaves of Woodstock, New York and Rockport, Massachusetts. In Gloucester, a famous artist destination on the east coast, he taught painting and in the course of his long, prolific, and expansive career, he made his home in the Bucks County town of New Hope, Pennsylvania.

In 1935, Harry Leith-Ross took residence in New Hope, Pennsylvania and converted a barn on his estate and grand property into a formal artist’s studio. This barn turned studio was the site where he produced many of his compositions in his mature style. Leith-Ross, working as a commercial artist for financial stability, continued to paint the landscape paintings that he cherished and adored of his home and the areas around New Hope and the Delaware River.

In 1956, The Landscape Painter’s Manual was published by Leith-Ross which surely established his position as an art teacher within the most innovative mid-20th Century American art arenas. Harry Leith-Ross’ paintings are active in the art market, particularly in Pennsylvania, and are regularly bringing high prices at auction.

Request an online appraisal of your Harry Leith-Ross piece from Dr. Lori.