Robert Beverly Hale (Amer. 1901-1985) was an artist and curator of American paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.  He studied at the Art Students League under George Bridgman and William McNulty and at the Sorbonne in Paris.

Hale was the nephew of prominent Boston artist Ellen Day Hale (Harriet Beecher Stowe and Charlotte Perkins Gilman were their relatives.)

Hale taught artistic anatomy at the Art Students League of New York for over 40 years. As he lectured, Hale sketched the anatomical features on the drawing surface behind him—his charcoal was secured in a long extender and he often famously drew over his shoulder as he faced the class!

He is the author of the iconic book Drawing Lessons from the Great Masters.

 

Meryl Ann Butler studied with Harold Stevenson, 

who studied with Robert Beverly Hale.

Meryl Ann also attended lectures with Hale at the Art Students League.