Saturday, March 06, 2010
RANDOM 341 OBJECT
1930 Watercolor PAINTING, Canyon, JACK RHOADES, Indiana-$190+
It’s really something when you walk into an old home and immediately spot two wonderful antique frames you know you must have. It gets even better when you realize they hold two excellent watercolor paintings by a known artist, originally from Indiana, who exhibited at the Hoosier Salon.
An eerie feeling came over me when I first took a close look at this one. “I’ve been there,” I said to myself, and that’s weird since I’ve never been in the desert southwest except for just passing through. That’s when it struck me.
Years ago I accidentally took a job which required me to fly to various countries. The flights were long and boring, so to occupy my time, I took to reading Louis Lamour westerns.
I had a slug in my shoulder and felt myself getting weaker with each step. If I didn’t do something right now, Hanson’s gang would be on me. I’d be dead Jesse's ghost. All I could think about was that little yellow-haired gal, a bit narrow between the eyes but cute as a button.
Since it was only about an hour before sunset, I decided to slide down into a winding arroyo and hunker down for the night. I could build a hat-size fire, boil a little water and clean my wound. I had three bullets left, and there were seven Hanson boys only about six miles down my back trail. The night would be cold, and the air smelled of murder . . .
Oops. Sorry. Flashbacks . .
So anyhow . . . It is signed and dated, lower left: “Jack Rhoades, ’30.” I think you can also see why I was drawn to the frames. Classic! I’m certain they were chosen by the artist, as they’re perfect for the pieces.
I have no idea what called Jack Rhoades to the southwest, but I think it’s apparent this work was done on site – “plien air,” as they call it at those fancy-smancy, big city auctions.
Don’t forget; I’ll be listing the mate to this painting in a few minutes, so check back or scroll down my list of offerings. You’ll see it.
RANDOM 341 OBJECT
FRANK BRANGWYN Litho - BEGGAR OF ASSISI – ARTS & CRAFTS-$36
As the son of an architect and designer of textiles in Bruges, it seems now to have been a natural fit when Frank Brangwyn went to work for William Morris at the ripe old age of 15. He is credited with creating many designs used in Morris’ Arts & Crafts output.
I found this quote on a delightful web page by Jim Vadeboncoeur, Jr.. Look him up. It is a great source.
“Brangwyn followed his own muse and in doing so found himself at the vanguard of the art world. In 1892 he began working as the designer for the new art magazine, The Graphic. In 1895 he was asked to paint murals for the notorious gallery, L'Art Nouveau, in Paris. He won medals for his work in Munich and Paris. At the age of 30, while Britain puzzled over how to evaluate his work, the rest of the world viewed him as the definition of modern British art.”
Anyhow, this piece from “Decorative Kunst” is already matted for you, and it’s in nice condition. The overall size is 11” by 14”. The page is 8 ¼” by 11 ¼”.
The Beggar of Assisi: He’s the guy St. Francis supposedly chased down so he could give him everything he had in his pockets. I guess that’s why they made him a saint. Who knows how that stuff works . . . ?
