Studio Still Life

Artist Frederic James (American, 1915 - 1985)

Date1947

MediumWatercolor and opaque watercolor, possibly over a graphite pencil underdrawing, on white wove paper.

DimensionsUnframed: 20 × 26 inches (50.8 × 66.04 cm)
Framed: 26 3/8 × 32 1/4 × 2 1/2 inches (66.99 × 81.92 × 6.35 cm)

Credit LineGift of the Estate of Mr. Joseph S. and Mrs. Ethel B. Atha

Object number2023.25

InscribedSigned in ink in the lower left corner (within the drawing): “© Frederic James 1947”

On View

Not on view

Collections

American Art

Terms

DescriptionThis large, horizontally oriented watercolor features the inside of an artist’s studio. At the lower left of the composition, the bare right arm of an artist extends from beyond the picture plane as if reaching into the scene so that the artist may draw a graphite sketch of the back side of the cello that leans against a gray chest of drawers at the right side of the composition. Above and beyond the sketch is a music stand holding sheet music. Near the center of the composition is a large piece of driftwood resting on a table above which is a landscape scene hung on the wall. To the right of the driftwood, is a metronome. Atop the chest of drawers at the right side of the scene rests a glass oil lamp. The watercolor is signed and dated at the lower edge of the graphite sketch depicted in the scene.Exhibition History

Exhibition History

“Watercolors by Frederic James,” September 2 – 20, 1952, Associated American Artists Galleries, New York, NY.

Provenance

Acquired from the artist by Ethel B. Atha (1899-1986), after 1952;
By descent to her son Donald J. Atha, Sr. (1930-2018), Fort Lauderdale, FL, by 1986-2018;
Bequeathed to his wife Jody W. Atha, Holiday, UT, 2018-2023;
Her gift to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 2023.

Published References

“Watercolors by Frederic James,” September 2 – 20, 1952, Associated American Artists Galleries, New York, NY (cover image). Frederic James: A Painter from Kansas City (Kansas City, MO: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 1986), 20.

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