Richard Gruelle

1851 - 1914

Essentials

  • Lifespan: 63 years
  • Museums on this site: Indianapolis Museum of Art
  • Also known as:
    • Richard B. Gruelle
    • Richard Buckner Gruelle
    • Ричард Грулл
  • Color intensity: balanced
  • Born: 1851, Kentucky, United States
  • Copyright status: Public domain

The Life of Richard Gruelle

Richard Buckner Gruelle was an American Impressionist painter, illustrator, and author. Born in Cynthiana, Kentucky, he was a self-taught artist who had apprenticed as a house and sign painter. After working as a surveyor of railroads, he established his first studio in Decatur, Illinois, where he painted portraits and domestic scenes before turning to landscapes. In 1882, he moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, to pursue a career as a full-time landscape painter.

Gruelle was a member of the Hoosier Group, a group of five painters that included William Forsyth, Otto Stark, J. Ottis Adams, and T. C. Steele. His work included marine landscapes of the Gloucester, Massachusetts, area and watercolors. He also authored Notes, Critical and Biographical: Collection of W. T. Walters (1895). In 1910, he relocated to Norwalk, Connecticut.

Artistic Contributions and Legacy

As an artist, Gruelle focused on landscapes in oils and watercolor. His masterwork is The Canal—Morning Effect (1894), which depicts the Indianapolis, Indiana skyline. Other notable works include:

  • The Artist's Studio (1892)
  • Indiana Landscape (1894)
  • View of Washington D.C. (1895)
  • Lakeview (1896)
  • Two Figures on Rocky Coast (1897)
  • Seascape (ca. 1897)

In 1891, he was commissioned by poet James Whitcomb Riley to illustrate the poems "When the Frost is on the Punkin'" and "The Old Swimmin' Hole." Gruelle also exhibited at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in Saint Louis, Missouri, in 1904. His son, Johnny Gruelle, was a commercial artist known for creating the Raggedy Ann doll.

Questions & Answers

Where is Richard Gruelle from?

Richard Gruelle was born in United States.

What other names is Richard Gruelle known by?

Richard Gruelle is also known as Richard B. Gruelle, Richard Buckner Gruelle, Ричард Грулл.

How many artworks by Richard Gruelle are available to browse?

You can browse 5 artworks by Richard Gruelle on the All Artworks page.

Where can I see all artworks by Richard Gruelle?

Every work by Richard Gruelle on this website can be browsed from the artist's All Artworks page.

Quiz

There is only one correct answer for each question.

Question 1:
Which group of five American painters was Richard Gruelle a member of?
Question 2:
What is considered to be Richard Gruelle's masterwork?
Question 3:
In which city did Gruelle establish his first art studio?
Question 4:
Who was the creator of the Raggedy Ann doll and the artist's eldest son?
Question 5:
Which area did Gruelle focus on when making extended sketching trips to the East Coast?