Arthur Quartley was an American painter known for his evocative marine scenes and coastal landscapes. Born on May 24, 1839, in Paris, France, to English parents, Quartley moved to the United States as a child. He grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, where he began his artistic career as a sign and ornamental painter. Despite the lack of formal art education in his early years, Quartley was inspired by the sea and began painting marine subjects.
Quartley's works often reflect a profound sense of the ocean's moods, capturing the calm serenity of a coastal scene or the tumultuous energy of the waves. His skill in rendering water and atmospheric effects won him critical acclaim. In 1875, he moved to New York City, where he became associated with the art community and joined the American Watercolor Society.
His reputation grew, and in 1876, he was elected an associate member of the National Academy of Design, becoming a full Academician in 1878. Quartley's work was exhibited at major venues, including the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia and the Paris Salon. He was also a member of the Artists' Fund Society and the Lotos Club, which were influential in the art circles of the time.
Sadly, Quartley's life was cut short at the age of 47. He died on May 18, 1886, in New York City. His legacy, however, lives on through his beautiful seascape paintings that capture the dynamic and changing character of the American coastline. His work is represented in several prominent collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.
