Master to Master: The Nelson Shanks Collection

Master to Master: The Nelson Shanks Collection

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 132. Houdon and Coins.

Nelson Shanks

Houdon and Coins

This lot has been withdrawn

Lot Details

Description

Nelson Shanks

Rochester, NY 1937 - 2015 Andalusia, PA

Houdon and Coins


oil on canvas

canvas: 34 by 20 in.; 86.4 by 50.8 cm.

framed: 48 ¾ by 28 ¼ in.; 123.8 by 71.8 cm.

Although celebrated as a figural painter and portraitist, Nelson Shanks painted still lifes throughout his career, often including interesting objects from his personal collection.  In the present composition, he highlights two incongruous items to create a unique image: on a plain wooden stool he has positioned a plaster cast bust of Jean-Antoine Houdon’s famous L’Écorché (see lot 131), whose bald pate he has covered with a coin belt and tassel. He included this piece of jewelry in two of his more celebrated paintings, Salome (2007, private collection) and All that Glitters (2008, private collection).