Thomas E. Breitenbach (born 1951 in Queens, New York) is a self-taught American artist best known for his painting Proverbidioms, a raucous and comical depiction of over 300 common proverbs and clichés. He also collaborated with Jim Morrison of The Doors, shortly before Morrison's death, on a painting intended for use on his An American Prayer album. Breitenbach studied architecture and fine arts (in an independent study program) at the University of Notre Dame, before leaving to become the youngest person to receive the Rome Prize Fellowship in visual arts. Inspired by the castles and museums of Europe, Breitenbach returned home determined to build a castle-studio to house his art. During the planning stages he painted Proverbidioms and later published it. Breitenbach has also written an illustrated fantasy novel, Grumparar's the New Creatures, a book of painting secrets, and an answer and trivia book for his puzzle paintings. He has designed fonts, composed film music, and written musicals, including Hieronymus a partly autobiographical story about medieval fantasy artist Hieronymus Bosch and his 'too-large' imagination which you can watch on public television at OurMusical.com. You can also see a new 25 minute documentary here. Breitenbach has exhibited internationally, but prefers to publish and license his work. A trust has been created for Breitenbach's artwork and castle to become a future museum.

Timeline:
 
  Born in Queens, New York in 1951
  In High School, builds a harpsichord, clavichord and five grandfather clocks, learning to paint while decorating the cabinets. 1966-68
  Attended the University of Notre Dame 1969-72
  Painted a triptych for Jim Morrison of the Doors 1970
  Left the university for Italy, when he became the youngest person to win the Prix de Rome fellowship in painting 1972-74
  Completed Proverbidioms in 1975 at age 24
  Began construction of his castle 1975
  Received a CAPS fellowship (now called New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowships) in 1978
  Published Proverbidioms the poster 1980
  Proverbidioms has become America's best selling poster. It has reached over 100 countries around the globe, primarily as a teaching device.
  Proverbidioms appears or is discussed in many books and scholarly works, has been twice published by jigsaw puzzle companies, appeared on television sets, and has been counterfeited several times.
  Breitenbach directs the first performance of his musical, Hieronymus in 1999, and Little Black Boxes in 2000
  The artist scores two films for his son Travis, and acts in another called Seven Days of Samsara 2002-2004. To hear Mr. Breitenbach's film music click here.
  Proverbidioms: All the Answers & Trivia, published as an eBook, reveals for the first time the answers to all his puzzle paintings.
  The artist builds a large stone garage and gatehouse 2010-2012 and opens the grounds for weddings and events 2013
  Hieronymus, A Musical Fantasy, the story of an artist with a 'too-large' imagination is performed at historic Proctors Theatre and filmed for public television 2016
  A 25 minute Documentary is released 2019
 
For a more in depth biography visit the archives or Wikipedia

Links:
 
T. E. Breitenbach's Website
The Artist's Poster Shop
Breitenbach's Hieronymus Bosch Musical
An Archive of Articles, Films, and Memorabilia
A Catalogue Raisonné
A History of Proverbidioms
The Jim Morrison Triptych
Proverbidioms Youtube videos

Proverbidioms © 1975 by T. E. Breitenbach

Proverbidioms is completed in 1975. The artist is 24 years old.
Proverbidioms is published as a poster, 1980-present
Proverbidioms the poster is digitally re-mastered and published in an ultra-sharp edition, 2013

      TELEVISION AND FILM:
Proverbidioms, The Art of T. E. Breitenbach, a 25 minute documentary is released, 2019
Proverbidioms is used as a set piece for a Touchstone/Disney TV pilot
       tentatively titled "Paranormal Girl", 2002
Proverbidioms appears in episodes of the television show "Beverly Hills 90210", Late 1990s
Proverbidioms and other posters appear on the set of "As the World Turns" 1996

Breitenbach's Shakespearience appears on the set of Saved by the Bell: The College years, Episode 1, first aired May 22, 1993, 15 minutes in at Zach's party for Leslie.
A Proverbidioms short film plays numerous times on Public Television, Early 1980s

      BOOKS:
Proverbidioms is pictured and/or discussed in the following publications:
 
Proverbidioms: All the Answers & Trivia, by T. E. Breitenbach.
             Published as an eBook late December 2011, and updated January 2012
Proverbium: Yearbook of International Proverb Scholarship (No.26 2009),
"Creating a New Painting of Proverbs; Proverbidioms IV: Who Missed the Boat?"
            T.E.Breitenbach, Edited by Wolfgang Mieder, 2009 (upcoming)

  Proverbs Speak Louder Than Words, Wolfgang Mieder, pages 267-269, 2008

Proverbium: Yearbook of International Proverb Scholarship (No.24 2007),

"The Proverb World of Thom Breitenbach. An Analysis of Proverbidioms",
            Bastian Scherbeck, Edited by Wolfgang Mieder, 2007
Von Bruegel bis Breitenbach, Sprichwortdarstellungen im Wandel
            der Jahrhunderte, Bastian Scherbeck (masters thesis), Nurnberg, 2004
The Netherlandish Proverbs, Edited by Wolfgang Meider, full-color 
            illus. of Proverbidioms and discussion, pages 229-232, 2004
What's in a Word, Robert Gorrell (jacket, Prov.II), 2001
Marketing Your Clinical Practice, Neil Baum, Gretchen Henkel, 1998, 2000, 2004
            (a medical practice book in which Proverbidioms is recommended
            as the ideal waiting room art)
Proverb Iconography, Wolfgang Mieder & Janet Sobieski, 1999

A Proverbs in Mind: The Cognitive Science of Proverbial Wit & Wisdom,

            Richard P. Honeck, (pg. 204), 1997
Proverbs Are Never Out of Season, Wolfgang Mieder, 1997
Preaching Proverbs, Alyce M. McKenzie (book jacket), 1996
Take Charge of Your Medical Practice: Before Someone Else Does It for You,

            Neil Baum, Elaine Zablocki, 1996 (Proverbidioms is recommended)
Watch Your Language, Robert Gorrell, 1994
AI Magazine, (cover, plus article discussion and detail) Fall 1990
Tradition and Innovation in Folk Literature, Wolfgang Mieder,
            (pg. 120) ISBN 0874513871, 1987
Psychology Today, a psychology textbook, 1980s

CAPS 1977-78, A Catalog of New York State Artists, 1978

 

      JIGSAW PUZZLES:

One new Proverbidiom puzzle is licensed by The Great American Puzzle Company
       until they are sold to another company, 2007-2010
Proverbidioms republished as a jigsaw puzzle by SunsOut, 1997-2005
Proverbidioms becomes the best-selling jigsaw puzzle for Bits and Pieces, 1990-1996

        CALENDARS: 
Proverbidioms is licensed for calendars by Avalanche/Lang Publishing beginning with 2009

 

      THE SONG:
Proverbidioms inspires a song of the same title, by the hardcore group
      Multiple Personalities. It appears on their CD Dealing With Disorder, 2002

      COUNTERFEITS:
Counterfeit Proverbidioms posters were sold by Image Masters, 1983 - 1985 and
      again in 1996. Identification: Posters are slightly blurry, yet the printing on the
      book in the foreground is sharp. Some of the posters measure only
      26" across rather than 28".
600 smaller sized counterfeits are seized in New Orleans, and traced to a dead end in
      Texas, 1992. Identification: Artist's name and copyright are removed/blacked out.
PLEASE REPORT any suspicious Proverbidioms posters! Thanks!

      EDUCATION:
Proverbidioms lesson plans published, 1992
Proverbidioms is used extensively in classrooms across the US.
Proverbidioms is used extensively in over 100 countries across the globe 
      by several organizations, as a device for teaching advanced English
      comprehension to foreign students.
Proverbidioms is used for teaching the deaf. Several Video CDs were
      published showing how to teach with Proverbidioms.
Proverbidioms is also used by speech therapists.

Proverbidioms is used for corporate workshops about creativity.

      GALLERY & MUSEUM DISPLAYS:
Some notable displays of Proverbidioms include: The New York State Museum,
      The Fashion Institute of Technology, Rhode Island School of Design,
      The Snite Museum of Art at the University of Notre Dame,
      Center Galleries, Dietel Gallery at Emma Willard,
      Art Expo New York, The Canajoharie Library and Art Museum,
      and the New York State Legislative Office Building.

      T-SHIRTS:
T-Shirts were manufactured using details from the painting, Early 1980's

      GAME VERSIONS:
The artist invents a board game version of Proverbidioms,
      It has never been published, 1992
Greenstone Games publishes Proverbidioms the app, 2012, and a new version for android and iPad/iPhone, 2019

      LICENSING:
Proverbidioms is available for merchandise licensing. Contact us if you
      are serious about marketing a product using the Proverbidioms
      name or images.  E-Mail

 

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