Collections record Beta

Collection Record Detail

Object Name

Painting - Grace Line Proposed Decoration

Object Number

1953-17-2

Description

Painting on matboard of two dark green panels bordered by light blue and light gray strips against a darker gray background. The left and right panels depict several golden figures, which appear to be five human-like figures, four starts and a medallion. The panels appear to mirror each other with the same two golden figures at the top of each panel with the rest of the figures and images below them placed at a similar height. There is a gray beam dividing up the lower half of the sketch. Written on the lower right hand corner of the mat board is written: "SCALE 1/2" = 1'-0"." On the back of the mat board is written in blue ink: "for S.U.M. Inc./Grace Line/Ship 2. Fwd Stairs/Sketch for proposed decoration/1958."

Provenance

See: 1953-17-8 and 1953-17-9 for similar designs for the S.U.M. Inc. Grace Line Ship 2 forward stairs (1958).

Comment

Born in Philadelphia, Austin M. Purves Jr. (1900-1977) lived in the East Litchfield section of Litchfield for the last 40 years of his life. Purves studied art at the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts and the Académie Julian in Paris, France, before opening a studio in New York, where he was director of the day and night schools at the Cooper Union. After moving to Litchfield, Purves taught art at Bennington College and at Yale Art School and was a member of the Architectural League of New York, the National Society of Mural Painters, and the (then newly-formed) Hartford Art School. Over the course of his career Purves did commission work for R. H. Macy & Co., the Folger Memorial Library in Washington, D.C., the American Battle Monument in Draguignan, France, the 1939 World’s Fair, various churches, ship lines and private clients, among others. In addition to commission work, Purves drew primarily from people and nature for his own personal sketches and paintings.