Animals in Art
Title: Bright Barnyard, 1965
Artist: Dahlov Ipcar (United States born 1917.)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 30 1/4 x 24 1/4 inches
Gift of Owen W. and Anna H. Wells, 2003.43.6
Image Courtesy: Portland Museum of Art
American Menagerie
Portland Museum of Art
August 16 November 9, 2008
Animals have long been a favored subject for artists. Some, like Edward Hicks,
return to a favored subject Peaceable Kingdom repeatedly.
For others illustrating creatures native to their homeland help establish a cultural identity.
Maine's Portland Museum of Art has organized an exhibition celebrating the use of
animals in art, American Menagerie, opening August 16 and running through November 9, 2008.
Edward Hicks
Title: Peaceable Kingdom, circa 1822-25
Artist: Edward Hicks, American (17801849)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 20 1/4 x 36 in.
Permanent Collection: Mead Art Museum, Amherst
Gift of Stephen C. Clark. AC 1951.384
Image Courtesy: Portland Museum of Art
Though he was born to Anglican parents, Edward Hicks was raised in the Quaker faith
following the death of his mother, when
Hicks was just eighteen months old. He married a Quaker; Sarah
Worstall. His family was wealthy but he wanted to support himself through
an artistic career.
Hicks work often reflected religious themes or drew inspiration from the bible. A favored
subject was The Peaceable Kingdom; in his life he created over
sixty-one versions of that work.
Hick was inspired by Isaiah 11:6's verse:
"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them," in his creations for The Peaceable
Kingdom.
Besides Edward Hicks other artists include
Mildred Burrage, Will Barnet, Wendy Kindred, Scott Leighton, Hunt Slonem, Roger Winter.
Will Barnet
Title: Winter Sky, 1985
Artist: Will Barnet (United States, born 1911.)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 40 3/8 x 70 1/2 inches
Anonymous gift, 1989.35
Image Courtesy: Portland Museum of Art
Hailing from Beverly, Massachusetts, Will Barnett decided early in his
childhood art was for him. He studied at the Art Students League of New York.
Later he would teach at the same institution that taught him.
Title: Animal Farm, 1963
Artist: Bernard Langlais (United States 1921-1977)
Medium: Wood Relief
Dimensions: 96 1/4 x 106 1/2 x 2 inches
Gift of The Art Institute of Chicago,
Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Hokin through the
L. Lewis Cohn Foundation., 2002.16a,b
Image Courtesy: Portland Museum of Art
Old Town, Maine native Bernard Langlais, is best remembered for
his brilliant wood sculptures such as Animal Farm, 1963.
Langlais interrupted his art studies to join the Navy during
the Second World War. He spent his time as a navy artist; classified as
a painter. Under the GI Bill he was able to study at the
Corcoran School of Art and eventually the Brooklyn Museum School where
he met Max Beckmann.
His first works were paintings. However in the mid 1950's he renovated
a cottage he had purchased in Maine. Langlais found an affinity for creating
art out of wood. He liked to make large works such as Animal
Farm. His father was a carpenter who first imbued his son with a love
of carving in wood. He particularly liked depicting animals.
Dahlov Ipcar
Title: Blue Savanna, 1978
Artist: Dahlov Ipcar (United States born 1917.)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 36 1/16 x 50 1/4 inches
Gift of the artist, 1987.58
Image Courtesy: Portland Museum of Art
William Zorach and Marguerite Zorach's daugther Dahlov Ipcar followed
in her artistic parents' footsteps. Animals are a constant theme
in her works.
Mildred Giddings Burrage
Title: Souper a Deux,, 19091912
Artist: Mildred Giddings Burrage (United States, 18901983)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 34 5/16 x 30 1/2 inches
Gift of the artist, 1981.104
Image Courtesy: Portland Museum of Art
American Menagerie includes over twenty-five artworks that
were largely drawn from the Portland Museum of Arts permanent collection.
American Menagerie
Portland Museum of Art:
August 16 November 9, 2008
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