Ernest Martin Hennings 1886 - 1956

Mr. Vincent Bendix, New York (sold: Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, May 29, 1942, lot 33)
Mr. E. Segredakis, New York (acquired from the above sale)
Hammer Galleries, New York
Private Collection, Forest Hills, New York, circa 1945 (acquired from the above)
By descent in the family to the present owners

Chicago, Illinois, Art Institute of Chicago, Thirty-First Annual Exhibition By Artists of Chicago and Vicinity, 1927 (awarded the Harry A. Frank Prize)

Patricia Janis Broder, Taos: A Painter's Dream, New York, 1980, p. 304

The following condition report has been prepared by Simon Parkes Art Conservation: This work is in lovely condition. The canvas has never been removed from its original stretcher. There is a small reinforcement on the reverse that addresses a small area in the lower left corner where there is a loss in the street in front of the small figures. Otherwise the paint layer is clean and stable. There do not seem to be any other restorations. There are some cracks in the figure on the right that are slightly light, but they have not been retouched. It is a matter of choice whether retouches are applied here.
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.

Patricia Janis Broder writes, "In 1924, [Ernest] Hennings visited Chicago for an exhibition of his paintings at Marshall Field's. There he met Helen Otte, assistant art buyer for the store, and in July 1926 they were married. The couple set out on a sixteen-month honeymoon and painting trip in Italy, France, Spain and Spanish Morocco. They visited Paris and toured the Mediterranean coast by car. Hennings painted the landscape and people of each region" (Taos: A Painter's Dream, 1980, p. 259). Upon returning to the United States, Hennings included Spanish Beggars, painted during this trip, in the 1927 Thirty-First Annual Exhibition by Artists of Chicago and Vicinity at the Art Institute of Chicago, where it was awarded the Harry A. Frank Prize.