Collections record Beta

Photograph - Painting of Mrs. Calvin Tompkins Jr.

1953-17-65

Black and white photograph of a framed painting of a woman in landscape. The figure of the woman is situated to the left of the painting beside a large tree. In the background there are rolling hills dotted with trees and above it a sky with some clouds. In the foreground of the painting photograph is a body of water dotted with lilies and lily pads. On the back it is written: "PAINTING OF/MRS. CALVIN TOMPKINS JR/NEW YORK/TEMPERA 1932/53"x39"/AUSTIN PURVES JR/PAINTER/LITCHFIELD CONN."

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.

• Purves, Austin, 1900-1977

1932

Overall Width 6.5"; Length 8.875"

• photograph