05-15-200905-16-2009
Skinner Auctions
Skinner AuctionsBoston MA
2459Boston
May 15, 2009 04:00 PMCalender
379

Romare Howard Bearden (American, 1911-1988) Christ Taken by Soldiers

Sell one like this
$26,070$22,000
Auction: American & European Works of Art - 2459Location: BostonDate / Time: May 15, 2009 4:00PM

Description:

Romare Howard Bearden (American, 1911-1988)

Christ Taken by Soldiers
Signed "Bearden" u.l., titled and identified "...IST TAKEN BY SOLDIER.../...IL ON
GESSO / Romare Bearden / Painted 7/1945" on a label fragment affixed to the stretcher, inscribed "Frame for R. Bearden by J. Grippi..." in pencil on the frame.
Oil on Masonite, 18 x 23 7/8 in. (45.7 x 60.6 cm),framed.
Condition: Surface grime, craquelure, minor losses.

Exhibition: Romare Bearden: First New York exhibition, opening Monday Oct. 8 extending thru Oct. 27. Samuel M. Kootz Gallery, New York City, New York, 1945.

N.B. In 1945, Bearden was given a one-man show by Caresse Crosby at the G Place Gallery in Washington D.C. entitled "The Passion of Christ." The works in this show "marked the beginning of a new phase of Bearden's resolution of problems of composition, color, and theme in his art" and was "the first of four important series, all inspired by literary themes, which were to be exhibited in the midst of the down town New York art scene in the mid to late 1940s" (1)

On Crosby's introduction and encouragement, Samuel Kootz hosted a show of "The Passion of Christ" series a few months later, to great critical press. Nora Holt noted that "…[Mr. Bearden] feels his series, "The Passion of Christ" presents a symbol expressing the emotional events of that cycle-tragedy, love, hatred, fear, sadism, and sacrifice-shorn of literalism as a device, but conceived and designed in his own creativeness." (2)

(1) Schwartzman, Myron. Romare Bearden: His Life & Art. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1990. Pg. 127.
(2) Ibid., pg. 135.

Estimate $15,000-25,000

The losses are pin point and slightly larger in size and are scattered throughout the composition. Some of the edges of some of the largest (2mm) losses have lifting to the edges of the paint. The work would benefit from cleaning.

Keywords

Howard Bearden, Christ Taken, Romare Bearden, New York City, Samuel M. Kootz Gallery, William Baziotes, Stuart Davis, Robert Motherwell, Jacob Lawrence, Adolf Gottlieb, Caresse Crosby, Washington D.C., army, G Place Gallery, Samuel Kootz, Nora Holt, sadism, Harry N. Abrams Inc.