Edmund “Ned” Werner Jacob, 86, passed away peacefully on August 24, 2025 in Franklin, NY at home surrounded by his granddaughters.
Ned was born in Elizabethton, TN, on November 15, 1938 to German parents Edmund Kurt Jacob and Sophie Theresa (Reimer) Jacob. Ned was an enigmatic, larger-than-life, and magnetic person who did things on his own time and in his own way. After high school, Ned hitchhiked to Browning, Montana. From there on out, he lived a life that was beautiful, bold, brilliant, and brave. Nomadic in nature, Ned was always traveling, and had roots in many places including the Rocky Mountain States, the Southwest, and Maine. A perpetual student of life, Ned spent his years painting and drawing, traveling the world, and sharing his many celebrated stories, knowledge, and wisdom with others. He dedicated his life to his art and was known not only for his incredible technical skill but for his amazing mentorship, which he shared passionately.
“Ned set the foundation for the modern plein air movement,” said Publisher Eric Rhoads. “It was his high standards that trained many of the most important artists alive today, and his impact will be felt for generations.”
Artist Linda Tippetts shared, “As Ned’s student at a workshop on Flathead Lake, Montana (in the late 1970s), his influence permeated my thirst for knowledge – not to mention being in the presence of a master.”
Ned is survived by his grandchildren, Emma Finley-Jacob of Stuttgart, Germany, Lauren Finley-Jacob and Kendall Finley-Jacob of Franklin, NY, and his great grandson River Jacob Story. In Egg Harbor City, NJ his sister Carol (Jacob) Farrell, niece Joanne (Farrell) Sabo and nephew Jonathan Farrell. Ned was preceded in death by his son, Ronald Edmund (Jacob) Finley, his brother Richard Jacob, both of his parents, and countless mentors and friends that he held dear.
Ned will be remembered for many things, but mostly for his profound artistry, charming intellect and wit, unwavering integrity, and deep love and loyalty for those close to him. His presence and wisdom were gifts to everyone who knew him.
“I had the good fortune of meeting Ned Jacob early in my career,” said T. Allen Lawson, “and I was extremely lucky to have been able to spend a great deal of time with him over several decades. Ned’s ability to draw and his dedication to the importance of drawing was apparent and to watch Ned draw was pure magic. Drawing is important, very important. It is the foundation on which everything else is built, and it is what gives the painter the freedom to explore their interests. To me, above all, was Ned’s clarity of thought. His ability to orchestrate the central theme of a painting, arranging the main elements of a subject into an organized hierarchy, was the power of Ned’s art. He was like a poet distilling his vocabulary into the exact, essential words — that is what has resonated with me most throughout my forty plus years of painting.”
Lorenzo Chavez tells us a friend of his shared the book “Sacred Paint: Ned Jacob” by Sandra Dallas with him when he was in high school, in the late ‘70s: “It was the most influential book I had seen at that time and still is after all these years,” Lorenzo said. “His art and life had a major impact in my life’s decision to go into the arts. I was so lucky to meet Ned Jacob, to see his works in the local fine art galleries, take a workshop with him at the Arts Students League of Denver, and to attend several life drawing sessions with him and other artists at his studio. His art and his life was and always will be a major inspiration and I am so grateful to have met my art hero, Ned Jacob.”
“Ned has been a treasured friend and mentor for over 35 years,” shared Marla Brenner. “Through our friendship, I’ve observed a man who held his standards high and loved his friends deeply. His kindness and generosity knew no bounds whether with students, friends, or complete strangers in need of his attention. You can tell a person by the community they build. Ned’s community has been a devoted family of amazing human beings. I will miss knowing he is still traveling this earth.”
In lieu of a traditional memorial service, Ned’s granddaughters will take an honorary road trip to visit places Ned loved. A celebration of life will take place along the way, on October 10th at 5:30pm at Nedra Matteucci Galleries in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Along the route, his granddaughters will be stopping in with old friends and students to collect stories for an oral history project on the life and adventures of Ned Jacob. To attend the celebration of life, or to participate in Ned’s oral history project, click here.
In lieu of flowers: Please consider a donation to this Art Scholarship in Memory of Ned Jacob.
View the flipbook “Ned Jacob: Drawing Inspiration from the World” here.
We will miss Ned and his annal trips to stay at our farm in Maryland, usually driving from Florida to Maine and back. He loved our country-side and the steeplechase racing. We had an exhibit at our Green Spring Valley Hunt Club where several paintings were sold. My family, the Colhoun’s always got an illustrated note back after an extended stay.
I have his book, Are there any sketches, paintings for us to buy? A visit from any member of the family would be welcome here.
Julie Colhoun 410-239-8252
We’re sad to learn of Ned’s passing, but what a blaze he made while he was with us. My mother was on the staff of the Denver Art Museum in the 1960s and ’70s, and became friends him through its Native American Arts curator, Norm Feder. It’s now my privilege to have a couple of Ned’s pieces, inherited from my late parents, and others I purchased personally. He had a wonderful, dry wit — a very accessible guy with a towering talent. Jennifer Gavin, Sandy Spring, MD