Guy Pène Du Bois

Tom Veilleux Gallery, Portland, Maine

Acquired from the above by the present owner

A longtime friend of Edward Hopper and student of William Merritt Chase and Robert Henri, Guy Pène du Bois was an avid art critic, artist, and writer. His works are housed in major repositories such as the Smithsonian American Art Museum, The Phillips Collection, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Brooklyn Museum.

As seen in An Elegant Afternoon,  Pène du Bois was known for his festive depictions of New York’s affluent circles. Unlike the gritty images produced by the leading Ashcan artists like George Bellows and John Sloane, Pène du Bois instead chose operas, clubs, and chic restaurants as his subjects. With an intense focus applied to social etiquette and expectations, Pène du Bois’ depiction of the leisure class captures a distinct moment in American history.