Leon Kroll 1884 -1974 | American painter and lithographer

Leon Kroll 1884 -1974 | American painter and lithographer
Leon Kroll was an american painter and lithographer. Known as a figurative artist, Life Magazine described him as "the dean of U.S. nude painters". Born into a musical family on lower Second Avenue in New York City, Kroll's father was a violinist and his cousin was William Kroll. He studied at the Art Students League of New York under John Henry Twachtman, and at the Académie Julian in Paris with Jean Paul Laurens in the late 1900s. In 1913 Kroll showed work at the Armory Show. In addition to his own work, Kroll taught at the Art Students League of New York and the school of the National Academy of Design, where he had his first solo exhibition in 1910, was named as Associate in 1920 and as full Academician in 1927. In 1930, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He was also named Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1950. Kroll died in Gloucester, Massachusetts aged 89. Leon Kroll's accomplishments in art are vast and he won numerous prestigious awards starting in 1912. By 1920 he was an Associate of the National Academy of Design and a full Academician by 1927. He painted in NY City, Paris, Rockport, Gloucester and Maine. Kroll was a leading artist, painting lush landscapes, cityscapes, figures and still lifes. His work commands some of the highest bid prices at auctions. Here are presented three conte' crayon female nude studies from his New York City studio days, about the 1930's. These are from his estate and each is estate-stamped verso.