Bernard Corey (1914-2000)

Bernard Corey was a highly respected New England plein air artist, best known for his peaceful oil and watercolor landscapes of the New England countryside. Born in Grafton, Massachusetts, on September 3, 1914, Corey spent most of his life in the same South Grafton home built by his grandfather. In the early 1960s, he committed himself fully to painting, quickly gaining recognition for his skill and dedication to working outdoors.

Corey spent time in Rockport, Massachusetts, where he developed his craft among members of the Rockport School, a group known for their Impressionist-style painting and connection to the Cape Ann art colony. Like many of his peers, Corey believed in painting directly from nature rather than using photographs or working in a studio. He painted on location throughout New England, capturing rural farms, quiet hills, coastal villages, and seasonal changes with great sensitivity and attention to light.

His style is marked by soft brushwork, muted tones, and a deep respect for the natural world. Corey was affiliated with many prominent art organizations, including the Rockport Art Association, Salmagundi Club (NYC), Guild of Boston Artists, North Shore Art Association, Hudson Valley Art Association, Academic Artists Association, American Artists Professional League, American Watercolor Society, and Allied Artists of America.

Today, Bernard Corey is remembered as one of the premier plein air landscape painters of the 20th century, and his work continues to be sought after by collectors of American Impressionist and regional New England art.