Stevens clearly took to heart the basic tenents taught by the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in 2013 – good draftsmanship and high key Impressionist color. In his eulogy for Stevens, at the 1971annual meeting of the Rockport Art Association, that Stevens had helped found a half century earlier, Antonio Cirino spoke of Stevens’ “genius for telltale drama – all vital, vigorous, often bathed in the glow of brilliant sunlight…painting nature in all her moods…”
William Lester Stevens
Dockside
One of the few native-born Cape Ann artists, the fascinating, eccentric, and gifted William Lester Stevens was born in Rockport to a family of ten children with little means. Notably focused and prolific, it is said that he won more awards and prizes than any other artist of his era (which included many American greats). His dedication to making art more accessible to the common man led to his contributions as a founder of the Rockport Art Association.