Robert C. Groves Jr.

Sept. 20, 1936 ~ Feb. 13, 2005

12 noon - Funeral Mass (across street) - St John the Baptist Church,
          125 W. Main Street, Front Royal

1 pm - Funeral procession to final resting site, Bright View Cemetery, Warrenton Va

1:45~2:30 pm at Bright View Cemetery  (*zoom out 1 level to see approx area)

2:30 pm - Wake / Gathering after, at Molly's Irish Pub, 36 Main Street, Warrenton
           **note Public Parking is one block over/behind Molly's and here is the
              menu Also note, Molly's does have the menu on line, but menu.exe is a
              better printing one. (note the left menu link is an EXE view-book, virus-scanned before publishing)
 

Robert Carnley Groves, Jr.,
1936 - 2005

 

Master Artist
By: Lydia G. Schneider, his sister

One of Virginia’s finest artists, Bob Groves, passed away Sunday, February 13th. He was at home as he wanted, with his son, daughter, and grandsons near, having battled a long illness of the heart and lungs. During the last year he lived with his son near his much-loved Skyline Drive, where he had often camped, hiked, and sketched in his youth. Like his father before him, he was drawn to the beauty of nature and the ruggedness of the mountains. Bob, needed to express this love for beauty on paper, and then on canvas.

Bob was born in Philadelphia, PA, on September 20, 1936, and baptized Robert Carnley Groves, Jr. His father, Robert, Sr., was born in Germantown, and his mother Elinor Lydia Finney Groves, was born in Bristol, both suburbs of Philadelphia. Bob has one sister who survives him, Elinor Lydia Groves Schneider, born in Ft. Bragg, NC, while Dad served as a Captain in the 11th Airborne during WWII.

After graduating from Easton High School, Bob was awarded a scholarship to study at Maryland Institute of Fine Art in Baltimore, MD. He also served in the Maryland National Guard, reporting to the same Easton Armory where he would later hang his paintings, along with other esteemed artists, for show. It was while at camp in Pennsylvania that he met the lovely auburn-haired Audrey Louise Smart, who would later become his bride in Baltimore. Bob then worked on the staff of the Catholic Herald Newspaper. Part of his duties included sketching political cartoons—showing a witty side of his personality. He and Audrey had two children, Constance Jennifer (CJ), and Robert Carnley, III, (Rob). Audrey predeceased Bob by nine years. CJ and Rob live in the Strasburg, VA, area.

Before moving to his new home with his son, Bob was often seen at the Great Meadows Gold and International Cup horse races, as well as the summer polo matches; for he carefully studied every graceful or straining muscle movement of horse and rider during the excitement and powerful engagement of the game. He successfully portrayed that wild exhilaration first in pencil or charcoal, then in oil on canvas. He also made a limited number of etchings, showing the tenderness of a mare and her foal, which sold so quickly, there wasn’t one left for his crestfallen sister! Numerous times he was the cover artist for the Polo Magazine and his illustrations were used for various articles. A short bio with a photo is in the 2001 edition of the magazine.

For a number of years while living in Owings Mills, MD, he and his wife truly enjoyed being involved with breeding and showing Basset Hounds. He served as President and later was on the Board of the Kennel Club. Though he painted other dogs, the Bassett Hound seemed to be his very favorite. There has always been at least one in the family. However, Bob lived to paint. Once when we were alone I asked him, “What do you say when people ask, ‘Why do you paint’?” He looked at me and said, “Lydia, I’ve gotta paint.” There was desperation in his eyes, and I understood. It was that simple. It was his lifeblood.

To describe his whole career from book illustrator to graphic artist then to freelance painter, would take more space than I have here. One of his latest portraits he donated as a tribute to the Great Meadow Polo Club. It was of the late Robert Villegas, Argentine Polo Player. Bob painted many commissions, even while attending Easton High School. He was very adept at using pastels and pen and ink. One summer day, when Bob was 14 and I was 9, I was in shorts, and I remember his asking me to pose with my forearm over my head like a Greek statue. Mother would not permit me to put on my bathing suit! So, I guess I was his first model. I never did see the result of that drawing.

This is just a short biography of my big brother, a man who will not be forgotten. Bob’s wit, warm smile, and dapper cap, covering his snow-white hair, but most of all, his legacy of paintings and sketches I’d snatch from his wastebasket, because he thought they weren’t any good, will last longer than those who proudly hang them in their homes, and galleries, and wineries, such as Oasis, in the hills of VA, and the people of Great Meadows, the tents at the horse and polo shows, and shop windows in Easton (the place we called our “home town”). His children will remember and all who knew and admired his master’s touch will appreciate beauty a little bit more than they did before having the privilege of knowing this humble man, Robert Carnley Groves, Jr., Master of Art.