Paintbrush and easel

by Dr. Lori Verderame

Biography

Born in Ohio, Alfred R. Nunamaker (American, 1915-1988) was the son of the famed artist, Kenneth R. Nunamaker (American, 1890-1957). Alfred followed in his father’s footsteps to become a great talent in art world. He was associated in the early 1900s with the New Hope School of Pennsylvania Impressionism.

In 1923, the Nunamaker family moved to the artist colony of New Hope, Pennsylvania in historic Bucks County. Many of the most famous members of the New Hope School were established in this beautiful area of Pennsylvania and the Nunamakers, both young and old, made their mark on this community.

Kenneth R. Nunamaker

Kenneth Nunamaker established himself as both a commercial artist in Philadelphia and an important landscape painter within the circle of the Pennsylvania Impressionists. Like his successful father, young Alfred had an affinity toward the arts. Alfred began painting and exhibiting works of art as a teenager and often showed his work locally. He exhibited in local exhibitions in and around Bucks County while working as a studio assistant to some of the best known artists living in the New Hope artists’ colony.

Pennsylvania Impressionism

During the first half of the 20th century, New Hope, Pennsylvania, a town along the Delaware River, was a thriving artist colony led by such great masters as Edward Redfield, Walter Schofield, Walter Baum, Daniel Garber and George Sotter. The Pennsylvania Impressionist artists shared Bucks County and the art community of New Hope with such creative stars as Pearl S. Buck, James A. Michener, Moss Hart, Edward Hicks, Dorothy Parker, Charles Sheeler, Henry Chapman Mercer, and Oscar Hammerstein II.

Among the Bucks County artistic talents, Alfred R. Nunamaker carved out his own niche in the art world by concentrating on landscape compositions. He painted, in the art tradition of other great American painters of the period, scenes ranging from seascapes to landscapes.  These paintings showed Nunamaker’s dedication to capturing the beauty of nature in his compositions.

The paintings of Alfred R. Nunamaker are highly regarded by art critics and collectors. Paintings by Alfred Nunamaker and his father Kenneth are in collections throughout the Eastern United States, and specifically are held in institutions in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the New England states.

Request an online appraisal of your Alfred R. Nunamaker or your Kenneth Nunamaker piece from Dr. Lori.