John D’Antonio© - Born, Trenton New Jersey (1954), is considered by many private collectors, galleries and corporations as one of the hottest emerging contemporary realist landscape painters in the US today. D’Antonio’s flair for vividly cast photorealistic compositions makes us actually feel as if we are in his subject. Uniting a remarkable eye for realism with an unrivaled talent in the use of color and light, D'Antonio's work is at once traditional, reminiscent of 19th Century American and French landscape painters, yet carries a true contemporary feel. The artist is adept at capturing well thought out composition and unique color and lighting associated with certain times of the day and changes in weather. Mr. D’Antonio’s subjects include a wide variety of vistas, ranging from the pastoral countrysides and canals of Holland, to Washington’s Crossing and far away places such as Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. D'Antonio has a rare talent for capturing the essence of his surroundings and offers an innovative commentary about familiar, pleasing subjects. His palette offers a level of familiarity portrayed in a painterly, yet detailed, manner.

Major Influences
John D'Antonio has not arrived on the contemporary art scene without the impact of some of the most prominent artists in modern time. For example, early in his career at the Hun School of Princeton, (1970), John was introduced to a classmate’s father, Roy Lichtenstein, one of the most widely known pop artists in the world. D’Antonio immediately got a sense of how creativity and interpretation of stereotype subjects could be used in extraordinary ways. Mr. D’Antonio then attended the Rhode Island School of Design, (1971), where as a student, he was exposed to the techniques of noted graphic designer Richard Merkin, shown in the crowd scene in Peter Blake's design for the Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover (1967). At RISD, D’Antonio met with internationally acclaimed sculptor Louise Nevelson, pioneer of environmental sculpture and one of the most important American sculptors of the twentieth century, who visited with him during classroom instruction. She left a lasting impression of how scale could be used to effect of aura of mystery that captured the public imagination for years. It was also at RISD, he painted with colleague David Savage, grandson of Man Ray, internationally acclaimed Cubist, Dadaist, and Surrealist. After seeing a private collection of Man Ray’s work, D’Antonio was immediately struck by the artist’s lack of concern with the traditional and "Craft". Man Ray is the most significant maker of cameraless photographs in the 1920s and 1930s. D’Antonio graduated from Lehigh University in 1976. He attended the Art Student’s League where he studied under Xavier Gonzales a leading instructor known for his large mural paintings; as well as mentoring past students and friends, including Jackson Pollack and Leroy Neiman, (1980).

Turning traditional subjects into super-realism 
Many of these artists had an impact on D’Antonio’s attitude, point of view, and general philosophy regarding creativity. Yet, it was while residing in Hockessin, Delaware near Wilmington, (1983-86), that D’Antonio was inspired by the subject matter and techniques of the Brandywine School of landscape-portrait painters. These included in particular, N.C. and Andrew Wyeth, and George Weymouth. A colleague of Andrew Wyeth recognized D’Antonio’s art and immediately introduced him to Carolyn Wyeth, Wyeth’s sister who recommended that he meet other members of the artist’s family. It was ultimately through influence and guidance of George Weymouth, President of the Brandywine Museum and Conservancy in Chadds Ford Pennsylvania that Mr. D’Antonio decided to interpret traditional landscapes in a dramatic, photorealistic manner. He exhibited his first paintings at the Rhode Island School of Design (1971) and Lehigh University (1989) and has sold to numerous private collectors throughout America.

Mr. D’Antonio resides in historic Washington’s Crossing, New Jersey.