Martin Johnson Heade

Martin Johnson Heade was an American painter who depicted salt marsh landscapes and seascapes. He also depicted tropical birds, lotus blossoms, and other still lifes. His style is loosely based on Romanticism, with some of his best known works depicting a stark contrast of light and shadow upon salt marshes. The son of a storekeeper, Heade’s earliest works were portraits. He traveled abroad and was influenced by several European artists. He exhibited in Philadelphia and New York. Heade eventually got married and moved to Florida, changing his subject matter into Floridian landscapes and flowers. Heade was unknown during his lifetime, only gaining prominence in the 1940s after his death. Several of his works have popped up over the decades at garage or yard sales.