ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Richard Hayle Lever was born in Adelaide, South Australia and eventually came and lived in the USA. He was a painter and water colorist of marine and harbor scenes as well of landscapes. But he was best known for his marine and harbor scenes.
He first studied at the Prince Albert Club in Adelaide, Australia and when he came to the USA, he studied at the Art Students League as in Paris and London.
Lever was a member of the National Academy of Design, NYC, the American Painters and Engravers, the Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts, Hartford and in London was a member of the Royal British Artists, the Royal Institute of Oil Painters as well at the Royal Academy of England Academy and the Woodstock Academy of Art.
He exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of Art (1913-1932) where he was awarded a medal in 1917 and a gold medal in 1920. He also exhibited at the Corcoran Gallery Bicentennials from 1914-1941(12 times) the National Arts Club, NYC IN 1914 and in 1915, the Pan-Pacific Expo,1915, the National Academy of Design. NYC, 1914, 1936, 1938, with prizes awarded to him and many other important venues. He also showed his work at NYC Galleries.
Lever is best known as a post-impressionist of marine scenes. He was active in St Ives, England beginning with 1895. Ernest Lawson persuaded him to come to the U.S.
After the depression, he gave up his home in Caldwell, New Jersey to move to Mt. Vernon. NY, where he became the director of the Studio Art Club in Mt. Vernon.
Lever spent his summer in Gloucester, MA. He painted in Manasquan, NJ in Woodstock, NY, Nantucket, Vermont and Mohegan Island, Maine.
In later years, his palette became more vibrant.
Richard Hayley died in Mt Vernon in 1958.
Today his works can be found in private and public collections worldwide, including in museums at the Pennsylvania Academy of Arts, the Montclair Art Museum, the White House, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and many other museums in the USA and around the world.