About The Author

Born in downtown Los Angeles as a third-generation Californian and a direct descendant of the artist Jean Mannheim, Richard Reitzell grew up in Pasadena very close to the fabled Arroyo Seco, center of the area’s art community in the early 1900s. He graduated from the University of Southern California and has enjoyed a long and successful career in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. Among myriad interests, he has a strong enthusiasm for fine art, particularly the early California art scene, of which Jean Mannheim was an active contributor.

Reitzell belongs to several early California collectors’ organizations, serves as President of the Historical Collections Council of California, and also served on the board of the California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks (CMATO). He previously served on the Jonathan Art Foundation’s Board of Directors as Outreach Director for several years and as President in 2012-13 and remains active as a consultant. He was the editor of the organization’s book, Art at the Jonathan Club.

Book Events and Lectures

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Demystifying the Old Masters - Understanding Classic Art presented at the Thousand Oaks Public Library. The sixth topic in the Enjoying Art lecture series.

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

A Practical Guide to Collecting Art or "What I Wish I Knew When I Started Collecting" presented at the Thousand Oaks Public Library. The fifth topic in the Enjoying Art lecture series.

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

California Impressionism: The Foundational Art of Southern California presented at the Thousand Oaks Public Library. The fourth topic in the Enjoying Art lecture series.

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Contemporary Art: The Art of Today presented at the Thousand Oaks Public Library. The third topic in the Enjoying Art lecture series.

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Modern Art Made Easy: Making Sense of Creative Chaos presented at the Thousand Oaks Public Library. The second topic in the Enjoying Art lecture series.

Wednesday, September 9, 2022

Impressionism: The Art That Changed Everything presented at the Thousand Oaks Public Library. The first topic in the Enjoying Art lecture series.

Wednesday, October 21, 2021

Presented Masters of California Impressionism at the California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks (CMATO)

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

The Life and Art of Pasadena Painter Jean Mannheim as the opening event of the Masters Series of Lifelong Learning at the Pasadena Senior Center in downtown Pasadena

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Presented on California Impressionism at the Senior Luncheon at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Thousand Oaks

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Third lecture in the "Enjoying Art Series" at the California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks (CMATO) - Modern Art Made Easy

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Second lecture in the "Enjoying Art Series" at the California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks (CMATO) - California Impressionism

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

First lecture in the "Enjoying Art Series" at the California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks (CMATO) - Power & Art, a presentation based on the current museum exhibition that explores the intersection of art and power over the ages

Wednesday, April 18, 2018:

Evening reception, dinner and presentation on the the Life and Art of Jean Mannheim at the Los Angeles Country Club for the LACC Art Council.

Thursday, April 5, 2018:

A keynote presentation on the Life and Art of Jean Mannheim at the Annual Meeting of the Civic Arts League at the Shadelands Art Center Auditorium in Walnut Creek.

Speaker Available

The author of From a Versatile Brush: The Life and Art of Jean Mannheim is an engaging, interesting, and well-received speaker who is available for lectures, talks, or panels with interested art groups, collectors organizations, museums, or art schools. Topics include:

The Life and Art of Jean Mannheim
California Impressionism
Modern Art Made Easy
The Landscape: Evolution of a Favorite Art Form
Understanding the Old Masters
Contemporary Art
Collecting Art - An Insider's Guide to a Personal Passion
Exploring Art for Young Minds.

References available. Please contact him at rwreitzell@aol.com.

CMATO Exhibitions - Essay Contributions

"Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder"

"Art and Power"

"Landscape Painting: As Old as Art Itself"

"Masters of California Impressionism"

Tuesday, June 27, 2017:

Pasadena Museum of History's "At Home Series" - Presentation and Discussion of Jean Mannheim's life and art in a historical backyard setting as part the museum's summer cultural events program.

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Two lectures on the Life and Art of Jean Mannheim with book signings at the Pasadena Shakespeare Club celebrating the rehanging of their newly restored Jean Mannheim seascape.

Saturday, February 2, 2013:

A lecture presented by Richard W. Reitzell, great-grandson of Jean Mannheim, and author of “From A Versatile Brush: The Life and Art of Jean Mannheim” at The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana. Sponsored by the Bowers California Arts Council. Book signing to follow.

Saturday, April 7, 2012:

Presentation & Book Signing at the Irvine Museum at 1:30pm in the Museum's Meeting Room. The event is free and open to the public.

Sunday, January 15, 2012:

Presentation & Book Signing at the California Art Club membership meeting at the Curtin House at the Pasadena Museum of History.

Thursday, July 14, 2011:

Discussion & Book Signing at The Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts. The event is a part of the Art Talk Series on the festival grounds.

Thursday, June 16th, 2011:

Mannheim Presentation and Book Signing at the Pasadena Museum of History.

Sunday, May 22nd, 2011:

The Historical Council of California's Annual Meeting & Dinner at The Balboa Bay Club & Resort. Presentation and book signing.

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