This is Alexander Nelke

Sergei Alexander Nelke (December 14, 1894 — August 8, 1974) was an Estonian-American artiste in the mid to late 20th century. He is primarily known as marine and landscape artiste specializing in square rigged sailing vessels.

Nelke was the center of three sons to Karl and Anna Nelke. His father was a carriage maker and worked on the ceremonial carriage that was built for Queen Victoria as soon as she visited Russia in 1894.^{[dubious – discuss]} After completing his subsidiary education in 1910, Nelke began his career as a seaman involved as a ships carpenter, eventually rising to the rank of 2nd Mate. Nelke became an skilled ships carpenter and rigger and acquired a thorough knowledge of the sea and sailing vessels from all over the world. Nelke would spend higher than fifteen years at sea before finally settling in Brooklyn, NY, near his brother Waldemar. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1945.

Nelke was primarily self taught as an player and began painting by using clip up sails as canvas even if out at sea. After settling in America, Nelke continued full of zip as a carpenter and painted out of his studio upon Baltic Street in Brooklyn. He studied for a time below fellow marine painter William C. Ehrig [Wikidata].

His background as a seaman and ship builder allowed him to fabricate highly detailed and accurate paintings of seascapes and nautical vessels. He was considered an authority in the ring of maritime art and as well as in the detail of sailing ships (especially rigging) and their construction. He was often consulted upon high-end ship models. This attracted amalgamation in the trailer market and Nelke was commissioned to paint several pieces which would be reproduced upon items such as prints, playing cards and jigsaw puzzles to be sold to the public.

Nelke sat upon the committee for the Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit, which was started by Vernon Carroll Porter in 1931 and was furthermore a former director of the Brooklyn Outdoor Art Show. He was a member of the Salons of America, and exhibited his measure with them in 1934 and 1936. He as a consequence exhibited later The Society of Independent Artists in 1934, 1936, 1938, 1940 and 1944.

At the age of 79, Nelke died in his Brooklyn, NY apartment on August 8, 1974. He is buried near his brother Waldemar in Wappingers Falls, NY.