Andy Volpe: Art & History
Get your copy of the Boston Massacre Hand-Engraved print here
Andy Volpe (Andrew P. Volpe) is an Artist and Living History presenter in the Worcester, Massachusetts area.
He studies and works in the drawing and printing techniques of the Old Masters, lectures and demonstrates these techniques covering the 1400's - 1800's, and also gives presentations on the Roman Legionary soldier to schools, colleges and libraries. He has also presents at museums and institutions. He holds a Bachelor's of Arts in Fine Arts from Westfield State University where he studied Drawing and Printmaking with some Art History thrown in for good measure. He's been independently studying the Old Masters utilizing translations and facsimilie copies of surviving manuscripts, treatises and manuals in art. His artwork, including Archaeological and Artifact illustrations, have been published (more info at bottom).
He is probably best known for his Roman Legionary presentations which he created and developed at Higgins Armory Museum in Worcester Massachusetts (where he also presented on Arms & Armor and Historical Fencing/Martial Arts), Now part of Worcester Art Museum as the Higgins Armory Collection. (Incidentally, WAM is where Andy studied and worked on 17th century printing techniques). He has been giving (Roman) presentations to schools, colleges, and libraries since 2004, and publicly both at Higgins and at other museums and institutions since 2001. He has also presented at the Classical Association of New England, Classical Association of Massachusetts, Junior Classical Leagues of Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, HistoryCamp Boston, has presented/displayed with Legion III Cyrenaica at International Archaeology Fairs (sponsored by the Archaeological Institute of America) at the Museum of Science in Boston, and at Joukowsky Institute / Brown University, just to name a few.
Since 2010 he has worked with the Printing Office of Edes & Gill at Faneuil Hall, where he replicates and prints the engravings of Paul Revere and other notable 18th century intaglio prints. He occasionally demonstrates these techniques, as well as hand-painting prints at the Office and other venues/events.
- In February 2020, Andy completed a full-size, uncut replica copperplate engraving of Revere’s “Bloody Massacre”, as part of the 250th commemoration of the event. Prints will be made available starting in March 2020, both black-and-white and hand-colored versions available. A series of Live printing demonstrations and lectures are being scheduled at Worcester Art Museum, the Printing Office of Edes & Gill, the Museum of Printing, and other venues. If your organization, museum, historical house, historical society, school, library are interested, please contact Andy directly.
He is also very active with the Museum of Printing in Haverhill, MA, where he wears many hats between updating the database of the Romano Library, providing Tours/Gallery guide, restoration of printing presses & equipment, and currently researching and curating the Klein collection, a significant private collection of some 1,500 intaglio prints dating from the 1500s to 1700. He has also provided Intaglio Printmaking demonstrations at the Museum, and has independently (or as the Printing Office) at Old Sturbridge Village, Plimoth-Pautuxet, Mashantucket-Pequot Museum, The Oaks Mansion (Daughters of the American Revolution Cpt. Bigelow Chapter), and at various Colonial Trades/Crafts fairs.
He is an active member of several world respected living history groups spanning ancient Rome, Late Medieval, Early Colonial America, and American Civil War; and is insured through the Living History Association in Vermont.
In addition to Living History presentations, he is also offering a number of Online/Zoom Slide lectures, as well as Live Slide lectures on Printing History as well as Roman topics (listing also available here)
(Live)
Roman Legionary; Medieval-Renaissance Artist; History Of Printing / Engraving Printing Demo
(Online Zoom / Slide lecture)
Roman Legionary; Medieval & Renaissance Artist; "Printing in Early Colonial New England"; "Re-Engraving Paul Revere / Replicating the Boston Massacre"; "Pressed Into Service: The Printing Press In War" (In development); "Printing Up Trouble / Dangerous Printers" (In Development); "Birds In Print" (In Development)
Living History Groups and Organizations:
- Legion III Cyrenaica; New England region, Roman Legion 1st Century CE
- Legion XX Valeria Victrix; Maryland-Virginia, Roman Legion 1st Century CE
- Company of the Wolfe Argent, New Hampshire/New England, Burgundian Lance 1460-70's
- Salem Trayned Band; Massachusetts Bay Colony / Essex County, Colonial Militia 1630's
- Salem Light Infantry / Salem Zouaves; Massachusetts Volunteer Militia (8th Reg. Co. I/J), 1861
- Printing Office of Edes and Gill; Boston MA, Engraver / Printer / Limner 1770's
- Museum of Printing, 15 Thornton Ave, Haverhill MA
- Living History Association, Wilmington VT (Individual & Group Member via Leg. III; provides insurance)
- Higgins Armory Museum, Worcester MA (closed 2013) Education Staff 2002-2006 & 2013, Volunteer 2006-2012)
-- Collection moved to Worcester Art Museum 2013 as Higgins Armory Collection
Examples of Artwork, including pieces utilizing Old Master's techniques and processes:
List of Published Illustrations:
"Game of Thrones and the Medieval Art of War", Dr. Kenneth Mondschein, McFarland Press (coming 2017)
- Diagrams of helmets, swords, pole arms and other weaponry (utilizing Museum artifacts)
"Artist In Residence" project, drawing (pretty much) the entire Arms and Armor collection that was on display at Higgins Armory Museum before its closure in 2013.
"Icelanders in the Viking Age: The People of the Saga", Dr. William R. Short, McFarland Press (2010)
- Diagrams of archaeological sites/houses, cross-section plan, conceptual illustrations of ships
"Jarred Expectations" from "Losers and Their Friends" collection, Erin Thorne, Great Old Ones Publ. (2014)
"Rebecca's Hell", Resa Nelson, in Brutarian Quarterly #44 (2005)
Diagram of the Teuffenbach Armor in "Age of Armor" Exhibition Catalog/Booklet, Nationally travelled exhibition, Higgins Armory Museum (2005)
Other Places Online to Find Me:
CreativeGround Massachusetts Library Dir. LinkedIn. NorthShoreArts