Robert Feke is considered by some to be one of the most able colonial portrait artists. He may have learned to paint in Spain while held a captive there. He was American by birth, practised in Newport, Rhode Island. Dr Alexander Hamilton described him in 1744 as "exactly the phiz of a painter, having a long pale face, sharp nose, large eyes with which he looked upon you with steadfastly, long curled black hair, a delicate long hand, and white fingers".

Robert Feke was the son of the Rev. Robert Feke and Clemence Ludlam Feke, born c 1705 at Oyster Bay, Long Island. It is certain that on his fathers side, the artist was a descendant of Lt. Robert Feake, one of the early settlers of Watertown, Massachusetts. Lt Feake married Elizabeth Fones, widow of Henry Winthrop, nephew of Gov John Winthrop. The Winthrops were of Essex, England. It is conjectured that Robert Feake was from the Feke family listed in the visitations of Essex.

Feke's father was a zealous Quaker minister in Oyster Bay. He was estranged from his family having accepted the doctrines of the Baptists, ran away to sea, and while serving on a ship was carried as a prisoner to Spain. In 1729 he was one of several persons in Newport, RI subscribing to rebuild the Baptist Church.

Feke settled abt 1726 at Newport. On 26 September 1742, Robert Feke married Eleanor Cozzens, daughter of Leonard Cozzens, both of Newport by Rev John Callender, a minister of the Baptist Church. Their house was on Truro Street.

Feke died in Bermuda after going there in hopes of a cure for Ill health. He died at the age of 44. His wife died 6 July 1806 in Newport.