Severin Roesen in Williamsport Pa

Roesen Still Life in the Park Home Collection

Severin Roesen [1815-1872]

Still-life painter Severin Roesen was born in Boppard, Prussia (now Germany) and worked as a porcelain painter in Cologne, Germany before immigrating to New York City in 1848. His art training is unknown; however, he had exhibited a floral still-life in Cologne in 1847 before he left for the United States that same year. His wife died shortly after they arrived in New York and Roesen remarried the following year.

Upon his arrival in New York, he began exhibiting his still-lifes at the American Art Union, through which he sold his paintings. He taught still-life painting while painting and selling his own sumptuous still-lifes, modeled after 17th - and early-18th -century Dutch painting.

Records of his marriage to Wilhelmina Ludwig and the births of their children, place him in New York from 1848 to 1857. During these years he was very active there, judging by the number of his signed paintings and records of his sales to the American Art-Union

In 1857 Roesen left his family and moved to Pennsylvania, living briefly in Philadelphia, then in the German-American communities near Harrisburg and Huntingdon.  

In Huntingdon at the Wilson hotel and he traded paintings for lodging.  In the 1860 Cenus, he is listed under the John Miller, Hotel Keeper, in Huntingdon Pa.

In The Park Home Collection, Williamsport

Roesen settled in Williamsport around 1863, during the lumber era in Lycoming County, remaining there for nearly 10 years. His 12 years in Williamsport are thought to have been his most artistically productive, in a city that was, at the time, home to more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the world.  However, Roesen became neither rich, nor famous, during his time there.

Rosen often completed his work on small canvases and wooden plants that could be completed quickly and sold as he needed the money.  He frequently bartered his work for food and lodgings.

Roesen in the Rowley House Museum

His paintings could be found in many homes throughout Williamsport, but were often relegated to attics and store rooms.

1871 Directory, Williamsport Pa

Roesen’s life after 1872 is somewhat obscure.  He was last found   in the Williamsport city directory in 1871.  The latest date on any of his known paintings is 1872.   Dr. Mook believes that Roesen retraced his steps from Williamsport in 1872, returning to Huntingdon, passing through Harrisburg and onto Philadelphia where he died in an almshouse that same year.

Roesen at the Taber Museum in Williamsport

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy chose two of his paintings to appear in her refurbishment of the White House in 1962, popularizing the artists work.   Prices sky rocketed, and many of the paintings were sold out of Williamsport.

Today Roesen is famous for his still lifes of fruits and flowers. His 300-400 still life paintings  were influenced by the Dutch tradition, and typically consist of a large, elaborate arrangements of fruits or sometimes flowers, usually surrounded by leaves and accompanied by a small bird's nest or a half-filled wine glass, all piled high on a marble table top. His signature is often devised as a grape vine's tendril.

A plate full of strawberries is a common motif in Roesen's paintings.  His works also often frequently include a bottle of champagne, a champagne glass or wine goblet.  These items are nearly always placed in the lower left of the painting.  

Roesen still lifes are held in several major museum collections, including Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Chrysler Museum, the St. Louis Art Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the National Art Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution.

Additionally, one is on display in the Huntingdon Historical Society, several are at the Taber Museum in Williamsport, and more are on display at the Rowley House Museum in Williamsport.

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s interest in the Germanborn artist Severin Roesen led to the acquisition of three of his still life paintings for the White House collection. This is Still Life with Fruit, 1850, oil on canvas.

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