Art Knowledge News
Long-Lost Painting by John Sloan now on View at Detroit Institute of Arts |
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| Written by Pamela Marcil |
| Saturday, 05 December 2009 05:55 |
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Sloan was known for capturing the energy and essence of neighborhood life in New York City. Fourteenth Street vividly depicts bustling crowds dealing with the commute to work, school and shops after a snowstorm on a busy street. “John Sloan is an important American painter,” said Kenneth Myers, DIA chief curator and curator of American art. “The museum has two spectacular paintings from the early years of his career—Wake of the Ferry and McSorley's Bar—but Fourteenth-Street is an important addition to the collection because it enables us to have a major work from the later and generally less-well known period of Sloan’s career.” The story of how Fourteenth Street ended up at the DIA from its beginning in the halls of congress is fascinating. Works created by artists on salary with the PWAP were property of the US government, and were meant to be displayed in public buildings. Sloan created two paintings during his brief time with the PWAP: The Wigwam, Old Tammany Hall (1934), now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum in New York; and Fourteenth Street at Sixth Avenue, which hung in the office of Senator Royal S. Copeland until his death in 1938. When Senator James Byrnes took over Copeland’s office, the painting was no longer there. In the early 1980s, during an administration change in Washington, congressional staffer Charles Terrill found the unframed painting in a pile of trash next to a dumpster. Terrill, who was surprised to find such a stunning painting discarded on the street, was very taken with it, but did not know of its importance. He took it home where it hung on his wall until his death in 1987. When Terrill passed away, the painting was given to his sister Cathie Terrill, who lives in Traverse City. It wasn’t until Terrill’s nephew, Bob Wuan, upon a visit to the DIA in the late 1990s, saw paintings by John Sloan and made the connection that his uncle might have saved a very special work of art. Cathie Terrill had the painting appraised a few years later, and only then learned of its value. In 2003 the US General Services Administration (GSA) became aware of the painting’s location, and recovered the painting from Terrill. Through negotiations, the GSA agreed to a long-term loan of the work to a museum designated by Terrill. She chose the DIA. “We are delighted to have this wonderful Sloan painting at the DIA,” said Graham W. J. Beal, DIA director. “The timing is especially fortunate in that it complements our current exhibition of WPA prints.” Hours and Admission Museum hours are 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Fridays, and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is $8 for adults, $4 for ages 6-17, and DIA members are admitted free. For membership information call 313-833-7971. The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), one of the premier art museums in the United States, is home to more than 60,000 works that comprise a multicultural survey of human creativity from ancient times through the 21st century. From the first van Gogh painting to enter a U.S. museum (Self Portrait, 1887), to Diego Rivera's world-renowned Detroit Industry murals (1932–33), the DIA's collection is known for its quality, range, and depth. Programs are made possible with support from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the City of Detroit. Visit :www.dia.org Click on logo below to add this article to your favorite Social Website ~ |
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