Alfred Thompson Bricher

Alfred Thompson Bricher was an American painter known for tranquil coastal scenes and the play of light on water. Born in New Hampshire in 1837, he was largely self-taught and worked his way from business into a full-time art career. He became associated with Luminism, a style prizing still water, even light, and wide, open horizons, and he found his best subjects along the rocky shores of New England.

He was especially skilled in watercolor and became a respected member of American watercolor societies. His paintings often show gentle surf breaking on rocks under a broad sky, with a few sailboats far off. Bricher never sought drama, and his steady, patient records of the Atlantic coast have a restful appeal that keeps his work in demand.