Lot 159: Robert Alan Thom (American, 1915-1979)

Robert Alan Thom (American, 1915-1979)
Snow leopard
signed and dated 'Robert A. Thom/77' (lower left)
oil on canvas
20 x 30 in. (50.8 x 76.2 cm.)

with The Robert Thom Gallery, Birmingham, Michigan, from whom purchased.

PROPERTY FROM THE DOUG AND ELLEN MILLER COLLECTION

Robert Thom was known principally as an illustrative artist who specialized in painting detailed historical series. He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and having shown an aptitude for art at an early age, he went to the Institute of Fine Arts in Columbus, Ohio. In 1939 he moved to Detroit and spent several years working in the art departments of Detroit Edison and General Motors Corporation before opening his own art studio in 1945. He received several commissions for historical series including 'A History of Pharmacy in Pictures' for Parke, Davis and Company in 1948, 'The History of Michigan' for Michigan Bell Telephone Company in 1963 and 'The History of Illinois' for Illinois Bell Telephone completed by 1968. In 1975, he moved to Santa Fe to pursue his interest in painting wild animals and western art and later he lived in Dallas.