Frederick Dielman

American, born Germany, 1847 - 1935

BiographyArt of the Print: An American muralist, painter, illustrator and etcher, Frederick Dielman was born in Germany but came to Baltimore as a young child. He received his education there at Calvert College and graduated in 1864. From 1866 to 1872, Frederick Dielman worked as a topographer for the United States Engineers. He then returned to Germany and studied art at the Royal Academy of Munich, under Wilhelm von Diez.
Frederick Dielman settled permanently the United States in 1876 and established a studio on Tenth Street in New York. Beginning in 1878, he taught at the Art Students League of New York and eventually assumed the post of Director of the Art Schools of Cooper Union (1905-1931). Frederick Dielman also contributed illustrations to Harper & Brothers illustrated periodicals, such as his famous wood engraving based upon his illustration published in 1866 for Harper's Weekly entitled, Celebration of the Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia by the Colored People in Washington.
Frederick Dielman was a founding member of the Society of American Artists (1877), a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters, the American Water-Color Society, the Salmagundi Club and the New York Etching Club. He was elected an Associate of the National Academy of Design (1881) and an Academician (1883). Frederick Dielman also served as President of the National Academy of Design, from 1899 to 1909, and as President of the Fine Arts Federation of New York, from 1910 to 1915.
In his etched art Frederick Dielman was particularly well known for his figure studies and scenes. Many of his subjects were drawn upon residents of the ethnic quarters of New York.

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