Robert Cronin paints strong, narrative works of people caught in curious, passing moments. A storyteller of wit and sophistication, each painting -- often quiet in mood with a tender blend of humor and sentiment -- is like a short story that one takes in at a glance, and successive canvases seem to carry on story lines.
Some artists have a knack for describing the figure in a way that is both convincing and inventive. Rousseau and Giotto come to mind. Cronin’s figures are not idealized; they have the presence of actual people, but they move and interact in a way that speaks of great significance, somewhat like mythological figures. The artist builds his composition with figures and props in a bold, almost classical manner, and his colors back up this grandeur. This is often at odds with the simple themes of his paintings, but there is merit to the artist’s idea that theatricality can live side by side with the ordinary interaction of people.
Cronin was born in Lexington, Massachusetts and attended the Rhode Island School of Design where he received his B.F.A in painting. He earned his M.F. A. at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
He has taught at several prestigious art institutions including Bennington College in Vermont, Brown University in Rhode Island, and the School of Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, Massachusetts. He has exhibited his work since 1958 and is represented in museum collections across the country.