Robert Henri Art

This is a possible self portrait by the famed female surrealist artist. It is also strikingly similar in style with it's exaggerated eyes to her portrait of Jean Genet, ( Leonor F...

Provenance: Charles H. and Virginia Baldwin, Claremont, Colorado Springs, Colorado ca. 1907-1934; thence by descent until sold in 1949 to: Charles Blevins Davis, Claremont (renamed Trianon), Colorado Springs 1949 -until gifted in 1952 to: The Poor Sisters of Saint Francis, Trianon, Colorado Springs, 1952 until acquired, 1960, by: John W. Metzger, Trianon, renamed as the Trianon School of Fine Arts, Colorado Springs, 1960-1967; when transferred to: The Metzger Family Foundation, Trianon Art Museum, Denver, 1967 - 2004; thence by descent in the Metzger Family until 2015 Exhibited: Trianon Art Museum, Denver (until 2004) The present work is a spectacular jewel-like canvas by Amigoni, rich in delicate pastel colors, most likely a modello for an altarpiece either lost or never painted. In it the Madonna stands firmly upon a cloud in the heavens, her Child resting on a delicate veil further supported by a cloud, as he gently wraps his arm around his mother’s neck. From above angels prepare to lower flowers and a wreath, while other angels and seraphim surrounding the two joyfully cavort. Dr. Annalisa Scarpa, author of the forthcoming monograph on Jacopo Amigoni...

Provenance: Torres Family Collection, Asunción, Paraguay, ca. 1967-2017 While the genre of portraiture flourished in the New World, very few examples of early Spanish colonial portraits have survived to the present day. This remarkable painting is a rare example of female portraiture, depicting a member of the highest echelons of society in Cuzco during the last quarter of the 17th century. Its most distinctive feature is the false beauty mark (called a chiqueador) that the sitter wears on her left temple. Chiqueadores served both a cosmetic and medicinal function. In addition to beautifying their wearers, these silk or velvet pouches often contained medicinal herbs thought to cure headaches. This painting depicts an unidentified lady from the Creole elite in Cuzco. Her formal posture and black costume are both typical of the established conventions of period portraiture and in line with the severe fashion of the Spanish court under the reign of Charles II, which remained current until the 18th century. She is shown in three-quarter profile, her long braids tied with soft pink bows and decorated with quatrefoil flowers, likely made of silver. Her facial features are idealized and rendered with great subtly, particularly in the rosy cheeks. While this portrait lacks the conventional coat of arms or cartouche that identifies the sitter, her high status is made clear by the wealth of jewels and luxury materials present in the painting. She is placed in an interior, set off against the red velvet curtain tied in the middle with a knot on her right, and the table covered with gold-trimmed red velvet cloth at the left. The sitter wears a four-tier pearl necklace with a knot in the center with matching three-tiered pearl bracelets and a cross-shaped earing with three increasingly large pearls. She also has several gold and silver rings on both hands—one holds a pair of silver gloves with red lining and the other is posed on a golden metal box, possibly a jewelry box. The materials of her costume are also of the highest quality, particularly the white lace trim of her wide neckline and circular cuffs. The historical moment in which this painting was produced was particularly rich in commissions of this kind. Following his arrival in Cuzco from Spain in the early 1670’s, bishop Manuel de Mollinedo y Angulo actively promoted the emergence of a distinctive regional school of painting in the city. Additionally, with the increase of wealth and economic prosperity in the New World, portraits quickly became a way for the growing elite class to celebrate their place in society and to preserve their memory. Portraits like this one would have been prominently displayed in a family’s home, perhaps in a dynastic portrait gallery. We are grateful to Professor Luis Eduardo Wuffarden for his assistance cataloguing this painting on the basis of high-resolution images. He has written that “the sober palette of the canvas, the quality of the pigments, the degree of aging, and the craquelure pattern on the painting layer confirm it to be an authentic and representative work of the Cuzco school of painting...

Elegant mid century figure study in pastel on brown paper depicting a seated nude woman with a hat and rose, by by American artist Louis Nadalini (Italian, 1927-1995). Signed Nadalini upper right. Presented in a simple wood frame, with new mat and new foam core backing. Image size: 29"H x 19.5"W. Signed and dated "Nadalini 85" lower right. Unframed. ARTFORUM article: Louis Nadalini In the last couple of seasons, San Francisco has lost several of its galleries. Some others have just recently begun operating but often with an entirely new group of artists. Some members of those apparently secure gallery stables that went out of business have found their way into other stables, but a larger group is without a place to show. I decided to look into such a person’s studio in my endeavor to find out what is really happening in the Bay Area art world. I went to see Louis Nadalini. His latest painting continues with the lattice of slats protruding forward with two variations of the painting painted on the sides of the slats which are viewable when standing to either side. This was always a very abstract method and he had quite often painted pure abstractions which centered quietly into hypnotic devices of exceptional color richness, but which gave a kaleidoscopic change as you moved past it. Untitled #42 (the most recent painting) has subject matter and was done in a much more painterly way. The side variations were flat in color, and there were some elements seen only in the side views, a skeleton’s arm and a black hand, for example. Nadalini says that he may abandon the lattice altogether if it gets in his way, but so far it seems to work better than it did with the abstractions. He is enthusiastic about the work he is doing, felt very free about making changes, and was, at the same time still happy about work from several years ago and unwilling to think that older work and new work should not be exhibited together. He hasn’t been thinking about galleries for a while. Nadalini goes to sea periodically which gives him time for contemplation as well as for renewing his resources. by —Knute Stiles...

William Clarke Wontner 1857-1930 British Portrait of a Beauty Signed and dated "W. Wontner 1918" (lower left) Oil on canvas Classical beauty a...

Artist's Self-Portrait in Pastel on Paper Bright yellow and ochre make up this self-portrait in chalk pastels by Michael William Eggleston (American, 20th Century). Unsigned, but acquired with a collection of the artist's work. Mat size: 30"H x 24"W Paper size: 24"H x 18"W Presented in a new soft peachy cream mat with foam core backing. Michael William Eggleston (American, 20th Century) is a San Francisco...

Vibrant figurative pastel coastal landscape of two children playing at the beach by Southern California artist Connie King (American, 20th-21st Century). T...

This artwork "Village de Provence" c.1990 is a watercolor on paper by American impressionist artist Sharon Galigan, b.1939. It is hand signed at the lower left corner by the artist. The artwork size is 17.5 x 13.75 inches, framed size is 25.5 x 22.5 inches. Custom framed in a wooden light brown and grey frame, with beige matting and light brown filet. It is in excellent condition. About the artist: Sharon Galligan (American, b. 1939) is an artist painting in watercolor, oil, acrylic, monoprint and mixed media. She was an art major in both high school and college: San Jose State University, West Valley College, and Evergreen College. She has also studied with nationally noted artists and teachers, including Ted Goeschner, Frank Webb, Charles Movali, Howard Rees, Tom Lynch, Dale Laitinen, Marilyn Simandle...

Bruce Adams was a painter, art educator, and writer. Born in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1952, he received a B.S. in 1976 and an M.A. in 1983 from Buffalo State College. Adams’s work is includ...

Inscribed, upper left: “Miss Laura Keppel” Provenance: Commissioned from the artist and by descent in the Keppel family estate, Lexham Hall, Norfolk, to: Major Bertram William Arnol...

Bold nude pastel drawing by Albert Hutson (American, 1923-1994). A woman is reclined on a soft red surface, leaning up against a yellow pillow. The model is skillfully sketched, with quick but confident marks. Hutson has captured the character of the model in her expression and posture, both of which appear relaxed and natural. Al Hutson retired from military service in 1974, moved to San Francisco, and enrolled in art school at the California College of Arts and Crafts. In 1978 he earned his BFA degree with distinction in drawing and painting. His work as a figurative artist was in the medium of pastel drawing, and he had an intense and abiding affinity for works on paper. Signed, dated, and titled twice in the lower right corner ("Al Hutson Danielle 89") Presented in a new off-white mat with foamcore backing. Mat size: Paper size: 19.75"H x 25.5"W Albert L. Hutson (American, 1923-1994) had two careers: first as a professional military officer, and second as an artist and member of the Board of the Graphic Arts Council in San Francisco. He was born in 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia, into a family with a long military tradition. His father and maternal grandfather were Annapolis graduates, and his paternal grandfather served in the Civil War. Colonel Hutson graduated from Staunton Military Academy in 1941 shortly after World War II began. He later earned an undergraduate degree in history from the University of Nebraska in the late 1960s. As a young second lieutenant in World War II, he served with the First Armored Division in the Italian Campaign, starting with the Battle of Anzio, and participated in the liberation of Rome. His interest in art began at this time when his commanding officer introduced him to Italian art. Al Hutson retired from military service in 1974, moved to San Francisco, and enrolled in art school at the California College of Arts and Crafts. In 1978 he earned his BFA degree with distinction in drawing and painting. His work as a figurative artist was in the medium of pastel drawing, and he had an intense and abiding affinity for works on paper. A graduate of the Fine Arts Museums docent [tour guide...

The son of the legendary Napoléon Bonaparte, Napoléon François Charles Joseph, takes a spirited stance in this remarkable oil painting attributed to the Austrian portraitist Johann Peter Krafft. Believed to have been exhibited at the Exposition Universelle of 1900 in Paris, this work stands as a testament to both Austrian artistry and the legacy of one of the most powerful men in history. After Napoléon's exile to the island of Elba in 1814, his son was seen by many of his supporters as the last hope of France. The child was named the ruler of half of Europe, holding the titles of Napoléon II...