Collections record Beta

Collection Record Detail

Object Name

Photograph - Mosaic for the Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial

Object Number

1953-17-17

Description

Black and white photograph mounted on board of mosaic from the Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial in Draguignan, France. In the photograph is a figure holding a soldier, a mourning couple, graves marked with crosses at the foot of the figure, and a kingly figure with a cross scepter seated to the right of the figure. Written on the left hand side of the mosaic in the photograph: "O LORD/SUPPORT US/ALL THE DAY LONG/UNTIL/OUR WORK IS DONE/THEN/IN THY MERCY/GRANT US/A HOLY REST/AND PEACE/AT THE LAST." There is also an inscription in Latin on the lower right hand side of the mosaic in the photo that is mostly blurred out. Only the words "NOUS/ST/DANS." are visible at the start of each of the three lines. The tape securing the photograph to the board has the dimensions in pencil: "22'5"." along the top edge and "APROX 25'0"." along the right side of the frame. Not signed, no date. Written on back in pencil: "Litchfield Historical Society."

Provenance

See: 1953-17-14 to 1953-17-20.

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.