Ralph Eugene Della–Volpe (May 10, 1923 – November 2, 2017) was an American painter, printmaker, and educator, known for his colorful abstract paintings. He taught at the

Art Students League of New York The Art Students League of New York is an art school in the American Fine Arts Society in Manhattan, New York City. The Arts Students League is known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists. Although artists may study f ...

and at

Bennett College Bennett College is a private university, private historically black colleges and universities, historically black liberal arts college, liberal arts Women's colleges in the Southern United States, college for women in Greensboro, North Carolin ...

Life and career

Ralph Eugene Della–Volpe was born on May 10, 1923, in

North Bergen, New Jersey North Bergen is a township in the northern part of Hudson County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 63,361, an increase of 2,588 (+4.3%) from the 2010 census count of 60,773, ...

. Della–Volpe attended the

National Academy of Design The National Academy of Design is an honorary association of American artists, founded in New York City in 1825 by Samuel Morse, Asher Durand, Thomas Cole, Frederick Styles Agate, Martin E. Thompson, Charles Cushing Wright, Ithiel Town, an ...

in New York City. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he joined the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

and served during

D-Day The Normandy landings were the landing operations and associated airborne operations on 6 June 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during the Second World War. Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as ...

at Utah Beach. He was wounded twice and earned a

Purple Heart The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the president to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, ...

. When he returned from the war, he enrolled in classes at the

for the next four years. Della–Volpe taught drawing and painting courses at Bennett College in

Millbrook, New York Millbrook is a Administrative divisions of New York#Village, village in Dutchess County, New York, United States. Millbrook is located in the Hudson Valley, on the east side of the Hudson River, north of New York City. Millbrook is near the cent ...

, and during his 28 year tenure at the school he also served as the chair of the art department. In 1994, the Warren Street Gallery in

Hudson, New York Hudson is a Administrative divisions of New York#City, city in and the county seat of Columbia County, New York, United States. At the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, it had a population of 5,894. On the east side of the Hudson River, f ...

held a retrospective exhibition of his work, titled ''Della–Volpe: Retrospective 1940–1944''. In his later years he continued exhibiting his artwork, and in 2013 at the age of 90, he had a solo exhibition ''All About Hue II'', at Gregory James Gallery in

New Milford, Connecticut New Milford is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The town, part of Greater Danbury, as well as the New York Metropolitan Area, has a population of 28,115 as of the 2020 census. New Milford lies north of Danbury on the ...

. Della–Volpe died at age 94 on November 2, 2017. His artwork can be found in museum collections, including at the

Seattle Art Museum The Seattle Art Museum (commonly known as SAM) is an art museum located in Seattle, Washington (state), Washington, United States. The museum operates three major facilities: its main museum in downtown Seattle; the Seattle Asian Art Museum in ...

;

Syracuse University Art Museum Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a private research university in Syracuse, New York, United States. It was established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church but has been nonsectarian since 1920. Located in the cit ...

, and

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is a museum of American art in Bentonville, Arkansas. The museum, founded by Alice Walton and designed by Moshe Safdie, officially opened on 11 November 2011. It offers free public admission. Overview ...

in Bentonville, Arkansas.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Della-Volpe, Ralph 1923 births 2017 deaths 20th-century American male artists 20th-century American painters 21st-century American male artists American abstract painters Military personnel from Hudson County, New Jersey American military personnel of World War II Art Students League of New York alumni Art Students League of New York faculty Artists from Hudson County, New Jersey Bennett College faculty National Academy of Design alumni People from Millbrook, New York People from North Bergen, New Jersey