James Herbert

James D. Herbert, the American painter and sculptor, is an artist of great versatility. His work has been exhibited at home and abroad. Born in New York City, Herbert lived in Manhattan and studied at Columbia University during his youth. He attended the Art Student’s League of New York from 1920-1923, and again from 1926-1929. While there he studied with eminent artists such as Frank Drummond and Kenneth Hayes Miller. He joined a "coterie of intelligent, socially interested and humanly alive artists" such as Reginald Marsh and Isabel Bishop.

As Reginald Marsh was attracted to painting the social theatrics of New York daily life, Herbert painted from a more personal and psychological perspective, capturing the "performances" of individuals. Dancers and theatrical figures were his subject matter. He chose to explore the delicate balance between inner self and the public presentation of self.

In 1923, Herbert left New York to study in Paris. While there he was able to paint with a diverse company of artists. A versatile artist, he exhibited at the Chicago Art Institute, National Academy of Design, Society of Illustrators, Newport Art Museum and the Providence Art Club. He left New York after fifty two years and came to Rhode Island in 1947 to teach illustration at RISD. He is listed in Who’s Who in American Art and the American Art Annual.