biography of Roger Wilson DENNIS (1902-1996)

Birth place: Norwich, CT

Death place: New London, CT

Addresses: Niantic, CT

Profession: Painter

Studied: with James McManus, Art League, Hartford, CT, early 1930s; with Guy Wiggins, Frank Bicknell, and George Bruestle in Old Lyme; with John Carlson and Allen Cochran in Woodstock, NY; Robert Brackman; Harry Ballinger

Exhibited: Lyme Art Assn (annually, 1940-on), 1996 (retrospective); Conn Acad; Copley Soc, Boston; SC; CAFA; Mystic Art Gal.; Peter's Gallery, New London, CT; Lyman Allyn Mus., 1973, 1979(retrospective), 1989, 1997; Shippee Gal, NYC, 1981-86, 19887, 1988; Dassin Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 1993-98.

Member: Lyme Art Assn, 1940; Copley Soc.

Work: New Britain Mus. Am. Art; Lyman-Allyn Mus; Florence Griswold Mus., Old Lyme, CT; New London City Hall; Slater Mem. Mus.; Wm. Benton MA, UConn

Comments: He was known as the last surviving link to the artists of the Old Lyme Colony. He painted in oils and watercolors, continuing the plein-air Impressionist tradition. Position: Conservator painting, Lyman Allyn Mus, New London, Conn, 1945-77.

Sources: WW73; Edward Feit, Roger Dennis, Old Lyme Impressionist," American Artist, Feb. 1988, p.30; add'l info courtesy Patricia Shippee.