Len Tantillo Biography

 Len Tantillo (b. 1946 - ) is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. Tantillo is a licensed architect who left the field of architecture in 1986, to pursue a career in the fine art of historical and marine painting. Since that time, his work has appeared internationally in exhibitions, publications and film documentaries. He is the author of four books, and the recipient of two honorary degrees. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Marine Artists. His work is included in the collections of the Fenimore Art Museum, the Minnesota Museum of Marine Art, numerous historical societies, and corporate and private collections in the USA and abroad. In 2004 he was commissioned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art to create a painting depicting the Daniel Winne house as it may have appeared in 1755. He has produced over 300 paintings and drawings of New York State history. In 2016 he was elected a Fellow of the New York Academy of History.

 

 

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Chronological Biography 

 

1946

Born Poughkeepsie, New York

1969

Bachelor of Architecture, Rhode Island School of Design

1970

Architectural Practice, 1970 - 1976

1976

Commercial and Architectural Illustration, 1976 –1984

1992

Inpakken en ... Avro Films, Hilversum, The Netherlands, Television documentary

1994

“Democratic Vistas: 150 Years of American Art from Regional Collections,” Exhibition at the University Art Museum, State University of Albany, New York

1995

Joined the American Society of Marine Artists

1995

River to Canton” PBS/WMHT, Television documentary

1996

Presented a master plan to construct a canal from the Hudson River into the city of Albany, New York, one mile in length along the path of Broadway. The city then commissioned Tantillo to follow up with an engineering evaluation of his design.

1996

“Visions of New York State - The Historical Paintings of L. F. Tantillo,” An exhibition of 48 paintings and numerous drawings. University Art Museum, State University of Albany, New York

1996

Visions of New York State - The Historical Art of L. F. Tantillo,” Exhibition catalog.  Shawangunk Press  138 p. (hard and soft cover)

1997

“Before New England: The Dutch and Native Americans in the Connecticut River Valley 1609-1650,” Exhibition at the Connecticut River Museum, Essex, Connecticut

1998

“The Sloop Experiment Leads the Hudson Out Into the Wider World,” Sea History Magazine, Winter 1998-99

1999

Award of Excellence, 20th Annual International Marine Art Exhibition, Mystic Seaport

1999

“The Hudson River in the Age of Sail,” Hudson River Maritime Museum, Kingston, New York – exhibitor and curator

1999

20th Annual International Marine Art Exhibition, Mystic Seaport

1999

The Natural Corridor: New York’s Transportation History,” Mountain View Productions, Television documentary

1999

Historic Views of the Capital District,” PBS/WMHT, Television documentary

2000

Rudolph J. Schaefer Maritime Heritage Award, 21st Annual International Marine Art Exhibition, Mystic Seaport

2000

21st Annual International Marine Art Exhibition, Mystic Seaport

2001

22nd Annual International Marine Art Exhibition, Mystic Seaport, 

2001

12th National Exhibition, American Society of Marine Artists,  Dennis, Massachusetts, and Wilmington, Delaware

2001

“Envisioning the Past with Len Tantillo,” New York  State Archives Magazine, Fall 2001

2002

Honorary Degree, Doctor of Public Service, Russell Sage College, “In recognition of the vision you have shared with us through your paintings.”

2003

The Sage Colleges, 2003 – 2008, Elected Trustee

2004

Elected Fellow of the American Society of Marine Artists

2004

Alice P. Kenney Award, presented by the New Netherland Institute

2004

13th National Exhibition, American Society of Marine Artists, Vero Beach, Florida 2004. Award Winner: “Winter Solstice,” Lake George, New York

2004

Hudson River Journeys,” WMHT Productions, PBS Television documentary featuring the work of L. F. Tantillo and the music and commentary of Pete Seeger

2005

Elected to the Board of Directors, American Society of Marine Artists

2007

New York State Conservationist Magazine, February 2007, Cover Story, “Visions of New York State”

2007

Commissioned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art to create a painting depicting the Daniel Winne house as it may have appeared in 1750.

2008

Gold Medal of Excellence for Fine Art, presented by the Holland Society of New York

2008

Commissioned by the Steinway Piano Company to design an artcase concert grand piano commemorating the 400th anniversary of the voyage of Henry Hudson to the New World. The piano was designated HH400.

2008

14th National Exhibition, American Society of Marine Artists, Chase Center, Wilmington, Delaware

2009

“Hollanders and the Hudson: The paintings of L. F. Tantillo,” Westfries Museum, Hoorn, The Netherlands, Exhibition of 50 works

2009

 Commissioned by New York Governor David Paterson to create a painting for the Dutch Royal family celebrating the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s voyage. The painting was presented to Prince Willem Alexander and Princess Maxima upon their visit to New York.

2009

“Amsterdam/New Amsterdam: The Worlds of Henry Hudson,” Museum of the City of New York, April 14 – September 27, 2009

2009

New York State Conservationist Quadricentennial Commemorative Issue, August 2009, “Painting the Past, The Art of L. F. Tantillo,” feature article

2009

Elsevier (Dutch Magazine) Speciale Editie, “Van de wal naar Wallstreet,” Annual Edition 2009

2010

National Geographic Society’s Education website licenses Tantillo paintings. This venue provides resources to educators and learners worldwide.

2010

“1608” Exhibition, New York State Museum, July 3, 2009 – March 7, 2010

2011

“The Edge of New Netherland,” an illustrated history of the colonial settlement of the Delaware River, L. F. Tantillo, Fine Art, 95 pages

2011

“Hudson River Panorama, 400 Years of History and Art,” Albany Institute of History and Art, March 6, 2009 – January 2, 2011

2011

Guest speaker at the Teaching American History seminar for New York City primary and secondary school teachers at the Museum of Natural History

2012

Guest speaker Philadelphia Athenaeum

2012

Research and development of drawings and digital models for the National Parks Service, Saratoga Battlefield

2013

15th National Exhibition of the American Society of Marine Artists

2014

“East River, Manhattan, 1655” 20 x 30 inch, oil on canvas, purchased by Fenimore Art Museum

2015

New York State Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Historic Sites commission to paint the settlement of Wiltwyck in 1695

2016

Elected Fellow of the New York Academy of History

2016

Moderator and Presenter at the first National Marine Art Conference, Williamsburg, Virginia