Ernest David Roth was born on 17 January 1879 in Stuttgart, Germany. A few years later, he and his family moved to America. Because it was necessary for him to work during the day, Roth enrolled in night classes at the National Academy of Design. He began studying etching under the renowned James D. Smillie who produced etchings and illustrations for many publications.

Roth first exhibited in New York and Philadelphia. However, he was financially unsuccessful and did not receive the recognition he desired. As a result, he left for Europe where he concentrated exclusively on etching. While in Florence, he created a series of etchings that immortalized the spirit of Florence. The director of the Uffizi Gallery was so impressed by Roth's work that he purchased the etchings for the Uffizi print department.

Upon Roth's return to the United States, he exhibited frequently throughout the country and won numerous awards, including First prize for Architectural Subject from the Chicago Society of Etchers and the J. Sanford Saltus Prize from the Salmagundi Club. Clearly, as one critic noted, "Mr. Roth's work has been welcomed in America as promising well for the future of the art."

His work remains in countless collections across the country. Besides housing examples of Roth's work, Silvermine College of Art has his printing press from which he produced countless etchings.

Ernest David Roth died in 1964.

Studied:
National Academy of Design
Etching with James D. Smillie

Member:
Associate Member of the National Academy
National Academician, 1928
New York Water Color Society
American Water Color Society
Salmagundi Club, 1910 (Emeritus Member)
Chicago Society of Etchers
California Society of Etchers
New York Society of Etchers
Washington Water Color Club
Allied Artists of America
California Printmakers
The National Arts Club
Salons of America

Exhibited:
Boston Art Club, 1900-03
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Annual, 1900, 1905, 1910-25, 1931-33 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 1930 (gold medal)
Corcoran Gallery biennials, 1914, 1919
Art Institute of Chicago, 1917 (prize)
Philadelphia Print Club, 1934 (prize) Salmagundi Club, 1911 (prize), 1912 (prize), 1915 (prize), 1917 (prize), 1918 (prize)
Chicago Society of Etchers, 1914 (prize), 1936 (prize)
American Fellowship, 1949 (medal)
Panama-Pacific Expo, 1915 (medal)
Society of Independent Artists, 1917-18 California Printmakers, 1922 (prize) Salons of America, 1934
Society of American Etchers, 1935 (prize)
National Academy of Design, 1901, 1903-1905, 1909-1912, 1914-15, 1917-1923, 1925-35, 1937-38, 1941-42, 1944-45, 1947, 1949-50

Work:
New York Public Library
Boston Museum of Fine Arts
Library of Congress
Art Institute of Chicago
Newark Public Library, New Jersey
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy
Silvermine College of Art, Connecticut (his printing press)
Burchfield-Penney Art Center, New York
Butler Institute of American Art, Ohio
Florence Museum of Art-Science-History, South Carolina
Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, Minnesota
Michael C. Carlos Museum, Georgia
Mobile Museum of Art, Alabama
National Academy of Design Museum, New York
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D. C.
Print Club of Albany
Saint Joseph College Art Gallery, Connecticut
San Diego Museum of Art
Carnegie Art Museum, California
The Mattatuck Museum of the Mattatuck, Connecticut
Historical Society, Connecticut
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Missouri
University of Michigan Museum of Art
Washington County Museum of Art, Maryland
Wright Museum of Art, Wisconsin

References:
Marlor (ed.), Centennial Roster of the Salmagundi Club
Smith and Chamberlain, "Mattatuck Museum," American Art Review, June 1997
Dunbier (ed.), The Artists Bluebook: 34,000 North American Artists to March 2005
Falk (ed.), Who Was Who in American Art 1564-1975
Schwartz-Philadelphia, European & American Painting, Philadelphia Collection
Falk (ed.), The Annual Exhibition Record of the Art Institute of Chicago
Lang and Lang, Etched, In Memory, The Building and Survival of Artistic
Reputation
Falk (ed.), Annual Exhibition Record, 1901-1950, National Academy of Design
Falk (ed.), Annual Exhibition Record, 1914-68, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine
Arts
Falk (ed.), Annual Exhibition Record, 1876-1913, Pennsylvania Academy of the
Fine Arts
Opitz (ed.), Mantle Fielding's Dictionary of American Painters, Sculptors &
Engravers
Falk (ed.), Who Was Who in American Art, Artists Active 1898-1947
Marlor, The Society of Independent Artists Exhibition Record 1917-1944
Adams, "The National Arts Club," California Art Club Newsletter, February 2002
National Academy of Design, Artists by Themselves, Artist's Portraits from the
Mason and Ludman, Print Reference Sources, Bibliography 18th-20th Centuries
National Academy of Design, A Century and Half of American Art, 1825-1975
Gidley, Catalogue of American Paintings in British Public Collections
Earle, Biographical Sketches of American Artists
Mattatuck Historical Society, The Connecticut Artists Collection
Clark, History of the National Academy of Design 1825-1953
Reese, American Prize Prints of the 20th Century
Mallett, Index of Artists, International-Biographical
Neuhaus, The History and Ideals of American Art
National Academy of Design, Commemorative Exhibition 1825-1925
Walter and Lemos, Panama-Pacific Exposition: Catalogue of the Post-Exposition Exhibit
Universal Exposition (ed.), Saint Louis, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, 1904, Catalogue