[Painting] Stanley Meltzoff Feature (1917–2006)

Stanley Meltzoff was an American marine painter, avid scuba diver, and naturalist best known for his large-scale, immersive paintings of coral reefs and ocean life. Unlike many marine artists who worked from photographs or imagination, Meltzoff dived extensively—often with scientists—using firsthand underwater observation to inform his work.

Originally trained as a commercial illustrator, Meltzoff transitioned in mid-career to fine art, focusing almost exclusively on the sea. His paintings are notable for their scientific accuracy, dramatic lighting, and sense of ecological complexity. Rather than romanticized seascapes, he depicted reefs as dynamic, crowded ecosystems, filled with tension, movement, and interdependence.

Meltzoff collaborated closely with marine biologists and participated in research dives, which gave his work credibility within scientific circles. His paintings have been exhibited at major institutions, including the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, where his work helped bridge the gap between art, marine science, and conservation awareness.

Today, Stanley Meltzoff is remembered as a pioneer of modern marine realism—an artist who treated the ocean not as scenery, but as a living system worthy of careful study, respect, and stewardship.

I knew Mr. Meltzoff as a neighbor. He was an avid diver and that is why I love his works of marine life.

Phil

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