Joseph Sheppard

Joseph Sheppard (born 1930) is an American painter and sculptor known for his contributions to realism. Over the course of his career, Sheppard has created numerous large-scale works in painting and sculpture, focusing on the human form. He is also known for his public works, including statues, murals, and portraits of public figures.
==Early Life and Education==
Sheppard was born in 1930 in Owings Mills, Maryland. He attended the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) from 1948 to 1952, where he studied under Jacques Maroger, the former technical director of the Louvre Museum. Maroger, who was taught by French painter Louis Anquetin, passed down his mastery of classical techniques to Sheppard. Sheppard was also directly influenced by Anquetin's works and techniques.
In 1957, Sheppard received a Guggenheim Fellowship that enabled him to study in Florence, Italy. This experience deepened his appreciation for Renaissance art and contributed significantly to his development as an artist.
==Career==
Sheppard’s career gained momentum with his artist-in-residence position at Dickinson College in 1956. From 1960 to 1975, he taught painting, anatomy, and life drawing at MICA, influencing a generation of students with his emphasis on anatomical precision.
===Major Commissions and Sculptures===
Among his most notable public works are several sculptures and murals:
* The bronze statue of Brooks Robinson (2011), located at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
* The Holocaust Memorial sculpture (1988) in Baltimore.
* The Pope John Paul II Monument (2008), at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
* The murals at the Baltimore City Police Department (1972) and Palmer House in Chicago (1987).
His artistic contributions have earned him numerous awards, including the Gold Medal of Honor from the National Sculpture Society in 1994.
===Portraiture===
Sheppard is also known for his portraiture, having painted figures such as President George H. W. Bush and Senator Barbara Mikulski. Some of his works are part of the Vatican collection, including his portraits of Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinals John P. Foley and William H. Keeler.
==Art Style and Use of Medium==
Sheppard’s art emphasizes realism, with a focus on mastering the depiction of the human figure. He was a strong advocate of the Maroger Medium, a mixture of mastic resin and linseed oil popularized by his mentor, Jacques Maroger. The medium, which was believed to have been used by Renaissance painters, allows for smooth brushwork and delicate blending of colors.
His credo, which reflects his dedication to traditional artistic techniques, reads:
> "I believe that technical skill is still an important element in art. I believe that there is no object to non-objective, minimal is less, junk sculpture is junk and form in painting relates to the illusion of three dimensions.... My art is based on a return to those standards which demand the knowledge of composition, perspective, color, three dimensional form, draftsmanship and anatomy."
His works continue to reflect these principles.
==Awards and Recognition==
Sheppard has received numerous accolades throughout his career:
* XXVII Premio Internationale "San Francisco e Chiara d'Assisi" (2019)
* Sport Artist of the Year (2015), awarded by the United States Sports Academy.
* National Sculpture Society Gold Medal of Honor (1994).
==Personal Life==
Sheppard splits his time between his home in Baltimore and a studio in Pietrasanta, Italy. His wife, Rita St. Clair, is an interior designer.
==Legacy==
Sheppard's works are held in various prestigious collections, including the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Vatican collection, and the Museo dei Bozzetti in Italy. His textbooks on drawing the human figure continue to be used in art schools across the world.
Category:1930 births
Category:American male painters
Category:American sculptors
Category:People from Owings Mills, Maryland
Category:Living people