Lot 57
  • 57

Thomas Eakins 1844-1916

Estimate
70,000 - 90,000 USD
Log in to view results
bidding is closed

Description

  • Thomas Eakins
  • Portrait of Harry W. Barnitz
  • oil on board
  • 9 1/4 by 7 1/4 in.
  • (23.5 by 18.4 cm)
  • Painted circa 1884.

Provenance

Harry W. Barnitz (the sitter)
By descent in the family
M. Knoedler & Co., New York
Acquired from the above, 1960

Exhibited

Washington, D.C., National Gallery of Art; Chicago, Illinois, The Art Institute of Chicago; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Thomas Eakins: A Retrospective Exhibition, October 1961-March 1962, no. 47, illustrated

Condition

Very good condition, under UV: two small spots of retouching to upper right edge, a few other small dots of inpainting. Verso: Generally good condition, several scatted dots and dashes of retouching, particularly in upper half
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Catalogue Note

Harry Wilson Barnitz (1865-1916) studied with Thomas Eakins from 1884 to 1889 and painted this portrait when the sitter was nineteen years old. There are numerous letters from Eakins in the possession of the Barnitz family dating from 1884 to 1891. Eakins, in a letter merely dated "Monday" (probably May 4th or 5th 1884), wrote to Barnitz :

"My dear boy,
I have had your letter three of four days waiting till I could find time to write fully, but I find now I must answer right away.  I should accept the portraits by all means and try to please the lady. I am sure you will learn a great deal doing them under the peculiar circumstances only peculiar and new to you though. As for sunlight studies that is new too for you and I regret for a good many older fellows in the life school. The whole of the tones have to be transposed into another key as you would say in your music, transposed so that what you do for out of doors must look like out of doors only when in doors in the gallery or house light. When you get back you will hear a lot about sunlight from Tommy Anshutz and the crowd that went sketching with him and you will see their work and that of others in the exhibition. So don't get the blues. You draw and paint very well and extremely well for your age. I know no one who has a better start.

Yours truly,
Thomas Eakins"