Feke, Robert

Feke, Robert (active 1740s). American Colonial portrait painter. Nothing is known of his life until 1741 when he executed a large portrait group in Boston, Isaac Royall and his Family (Harvard University). He was active from that time in Newport and Philadelphia until 1750, when his life is once more veiled in obscurity. There are about fifteen signed portraits from his hand and about fifty more are reasonably attributed to him. His works are somewhat lacking in characterization, but their strength and clarity of design and delicacy of touch five them a high place among Colonial portraits.

Photographs by Carol Gerten-Jackson.

• Portrait of William Bowdoin
  1748 (40 Kb); Bowdoin College Museum of Art