Back
American Art and Pennsylvania Impressionists
|
- Sale 2780
Live
| Philadelphia
Dec 3 | 2:00 PM EST
Live
| Philadelphia
Sale 2780
| Philadelphia
| Philadelphia
Estimate$5,000 – $8,000
Born into a well-to-do Philadelphia family, George Biddle was initially a Harvard educated attorney, but remains best known for both his association with the Federal Art Project and as a social realist who presided over the National Society of Mural Painters (his often-cited Society Freed Through Justice hangs in the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building in Washington, D.C.).
A brief but noteworthy aspect of Biddle’s life includes the time he spent in Tahiti. He traveled there as a young man after serving in World War I. Executed in 1920, the present painting is a great example of Biddle‘s Tahitian-themed oeuvre, which features works that successfully document the local people and environs. Biddle created a journal about his time in Tahiti, and while there, he learned the local dialect and gained an understanding and appreciation of the native culture. Remarking about the people of Tahiti, Biddle once said: “They are far happier than most of us, for they only live in the present.”
Private Collection, Washington, D.C.
The relined canvas in overall fair condition. With a shiny finish which might indicate an excess of varnish. We notice a thin imprint from the upper stretcher bar verso running along the top ⅓ of the canvas. With minor (for the most part minuscule) flakes/pin-sized losses throughout the composition, and especially visible at center left and bottom center (in the vegetation) as well as upper center (in the sky and generally speaking along the left outer edge of the composition). With more visible losses at upper center in the sky, in between the two palm trees. Examination under UV light reveals remnants of old greenish varnish throughout. With careful inpainting along the aforementioned upper stretcher bar mark, as well as along the one on the left and bottom. With associated meticulous inpainting in thin cracks at center left (all vertical) and bottom left (all horizontal). Small retouch in the upper left corner. Three small circular repairs visible in the sky, in between the palm trees at upper center left quadrant (on and below the pointy mountain). Feathery inpainting on the central palm tree (the trunk) and some of the leaves at upper right (very minor). L-shaped repair at center right (in the mountain, to the left of the two figures on the right): about 0 ½ x 0 1/8 in.. See Specialist's pictures for more details.
For more information on this Lot, please contact Raphael Chatroux at [email protected]
The physical condition of lots in our auctions can vary due to age, normal wear and tear, previous damage, and restoration/repair. All lots are sold "AS IS," in the condition they are in at the time of the auction, and we and the seller make no representation or warranty and assume no liability of any kind as to a lot's condition. Any reference to condition in a catalogue description or a condition report shall not amount to a full accounting of condition. Condition reports prepared by Freeman's staff are provided as a convenience and may be requested from the Department prior to bidding.
The absence of a posted condition report on the Freeman's website or in our catalogues should not be interpreted as commentary on an item's condition. Prospective buyers are responsible for inspecting a lot or sending their agent or conservator to inspect the lot on their behalf, and for ensuring that they have requested, received and understood any condition report provided by Freeman's.
Please email for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.
To request further details about this lot, please email [email protected]
Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have
