Chances are that among the homes you have visited, you haven't been in one with a cow painting. In an age where color and originality trumps perfection, the cow is not a favorite subject for wall art. In the 19th Century, at the height of the cow painting craze, prices reflected the number of cows … Continue reading Howe Now Brown Cow: A Second Look at Cow Paintings
The last time I was at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I was surprised to see a painting by John Francis Murphy in the visible storage gallery. As Murphy called his pictures purely compositional, "The Old Barn", possibly a scene of Arkville, is nevertheless a generic tonalism landscape. The exact locale is never the concern … Continue reading The Old Barn in New Style
The last visit to the Luce Center of visible storage at the Met proved to be a fruitful one. It was there that I saw Henry Ward Ranger's "High Bridge" in person. This is a picture that I have seen in the book, but was still amazed by its beauty and its size. George Frazer … Continue reading At the door front of Impressionism
It is rare to find the sketchbooks of a major artists because in the past some sold piece by piece to reap the profit. I am not sure how the auction house dated the works. His contact with Hague School artists began in the 1880's and it was during that period that he experimented with different techniques in watercolors and did critics with other peer fellows. Nevertheless, the group of 5 sketchbooks will made an important addition to art institute or serious collectors in Old Lyme School or American tonalism.
Geo in general dislikes paintings with religious overtones. Daigerfield once said: "Art is the principal flowing out of God through certain men and women, by which they perceive and understand the beautiful. Sculpture, architecture, pictures and music are the langauges of the spirit." His numerous mystic figures, even though set with atmospheric backdrops, are allegorical in the first place and may not attract the younger generations. Yet in this particular landscape, I was mesmerized by the simplistic design and eccentric color tones. The sheep harmonize the civilized landscape and bring the consciousness and comprehension to the dream-like land. In the flow of mist and cloud, in the ever-changing silvery moon-light, "sheep in pasture" presents an artistic vision of a spiritual paradise which can be obtained through imagination, perception, and devotion. [Read More...]
Books about individual artists. In case there are multiple books related to one artist, a non exhibition-catalog book is preferred. It is hard to make a complete list at the first draft, so your input is much appreciated.
Here is a list of books related to American Barbizon and Tonalism. I have the first six books (actually five since the issue date of the book by David Cleveland is delayed). Some out-of-print books can be expensive, but check the local libraries or museums first. Part 1 contains books of the movement or the … Continue reading A bibliography for American Tonalism – Part 1
The Freeman's auction today "Friday: Paintings and Prints" proved the low to medium art market holds well. Only a few were unsold and most were sold within the estimation. The artworks that are valued between a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars would probably not see as a huge profit margin as modern or contemporary hot spots which enjoyed before the economy went down; but nevertheless their values will not drop significantly like some of the contemporary artworks have seen now. The paintings and prints offered today have the appeal to serious collectors who do not want to get trapped by riskier investment. Plus they are beautiful.
One of the lots in the previous Freeman's auction on June 21, which interested both Geo and I, was a painting by Ann Crane, the second wife of Bruce Crane. The skills and techniques were of a master of tonalism style, but hardly would people associate such kind of solitude reflection with the females. Whether Ann was speaking of her own voice or imitating her husband is uncertain, but at the turn of the century, people expected female artists to paint miniature ivory, not rugged landscape in New England winter. Thus Ann could only choose one between artistic fidelity and anindependent identity. Her aloofness to the art colony in later years probably indicated that such sacrifice in the end didn't help her marriage. [read more]
This morning I was complaining about the release date of the new book "A History of American Tonalism,1880-1920" by David Cleveland, which was pushed to November from May, then I spotted a unique book about Barbizon school from the Brooklyn Museum Gift Shop in the afternoon. What a coincidence! It was in the special discount … Continue reading Newly Bought Book about Barbizon and Tonalism
Urban Art & Antiques 