Gerald Cassidy, Western Artist

Born in Kentucky in 1879 and raised in Ohio, Gerald Cassidy's early artistic training included study with the esteemed Frank Duveneck, a mentor shared with fellow Southwestern artists Joseph Henry Sharp and Walter Ufer. A pivotal moment arrived at age twenty when, seeking recovery from pneumonia, Gerald (Ira Diamond) Cassidy was sent to a sanitarium in Albuquerque. It was here, amidst the luminous landscapes and vibrant indigenous cultures of the Southwest, that he found his true artistic calling. Though a period in Denver as a commercial artist followed, the allure of Santa Fe soon drew him back, where he dedicated himself to painting a diverse range of works, from intimate postcards to grand murals. His artistic achievements culminated in a gold medal at the 1915 Panama-California International Exposition in San Diego for his mural work. Cassidy's canvases celebrate the radiant light and rich colors of the desert Southwest, infused with a distinctive art-deco sensibility despite their realistic portrayal. Tragically, his promising career was cut short when he succumbed to lead poisoning in 1934, contracted while painting a mural at the Federal Courthouse in Santa Fe, a poignant loss for the burgeoning Santa Fe art scene.

TAGS: Western Art, Joseph Henry Sharp, Walter Ufer, Albuquerque, Santa Fe