Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 4

William Quinn
The Boneheaded Cat Spies the Red Mouse Hole

c. 1970

About the Item

William Quinn (American b. 1929) "The Boneheaded Cat Spies the Red Mouse Hole" Oil on Canvas approx 45 x 55 inches An artist who synthesized the elements of the European modernists with the gestural style of "Action Painting" common to certain American Abstract Expressionists, William Quinn graduated in 1953 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Then he headed for New York City, where the Abstract Expressionist movement was dominant, led by Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning and Robert Motherwell. Quinn exhibited in a New Talent show and then served in the U.S. Army for two years as a training-aids illustrator. Following this, he returned to the Midwest and used the Army benefits (G.I. Bill) to acquire a Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Illinois. Following this, he returned to St. Louis to teach drawing and painting at Washington University. This geographic separation from New York distanced him from the personal angst and pressure of the aesthetic revolution felt by many artists on the East Coast, but not from the tenets of modern art. At the University, where expressionists Max Beckmann and Phillip Guston had recently taught, Quinn had a 33-year teaching career that enabled him to dialogue with American and European painters on the latest ideas and issues in contemporary art. His class duties were minimal, allowing him ample time for his work. Quinn's love affair with Europe began as early as 1957 when the University awarded him a Milliken Foreign Travel Scholarship to spend a year painting in Rome. Subsequently he spent sabbaticals in Greece (1963) and Paris (1982), and often painted during summers in Europe. After completing his teaching career in 1991 Quinn moved with his Belgian-born wife Jeannine to Bruges, where he now has his studio. In this 'European Period' he has "pulled out all the stops". The paintings are spacious and bold, often with surprising color combinations that have always been an engaging aspect of his work. Many of the recent works have white grounds in tension with aggressive, contrasting planes. Others have linear structures that seem to create a 'real' space, but then the lines dart back to surface, asserting the paintings' two-dimensionality, sometimes suggesting landscape or figurative elements. William Quinn works on one painting at a time, not in a series, as he abhors repeating himself. As a result, each painting is a new experience both for the painter and hopefully for the viewer. As of 2001, William Quinn has also been living in the city of Vence, located in Southern France.
  • Creator:
    William Quinn (1929)
  • Creation Year:
    c. 1970
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 45 in (114.3 cm)Width: 55 in (139.7 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Missouri, MO
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU74733731781
More From This SellerView All
  • Winter Pasture
    By Oscar Edmund Berninghaus
    Located in Missouri, MO
    Oscar E. Berninghaus (American, 1874-1952) "Winter Pasture" Oil on Canvas Unframed: 20 x 24 inches Framed: 25.5 x 29.5 inches Provo: Noonan-Kocian Gallery, St. Louis, Missouri, Dec. 23, 1954 (Copy of Original Receipt Included) * Will be included in Kodner Gallery's upcoming Oscar E. Berninghaus Research Project on the artist A founder in 1898 of the Taos Society of Artists, Oscar Berninghaus excelled at drawing animals and figures in contemporary garb in Southwestern landscapes. Many of his early paintings were Impressionistic, "suffused with color and light". (Gerdts 254) He was born in St. Louis, Missouri and developed an interest in art through his family's lithography business. He attended night classes at the St. Louis School of Fine Art. In 1898, he was on an illustration assignment for "McClure's" magazine, which took him for the first of many times into New Mexico and Arizona. He had heard of the special beauty of Taos and there met Bert Geer Phillips, who was already a resident, and Phillips invited him to return. This visit began a tradition of spending the winter months in St. Louis and the summers in Taos. He remained active in both communities, and for many years designed the costumes and floats for the Veiled Prophet parade, a famous annual event in St. Louis. He also did a series of western scenes commissioned by the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association to promote a manly, ruggedness theme in their products and to enhance their image as good Americans, an image that was being attacked by suffragettes. In this capacity and without visiting the area, Berninghaus did a painting titled "Old Faithful, Yellowstone" in 1914, which was used as a calendar illustration in the series. Berninghaus was a sketch artist for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad to depict landscape of Colorado...
    Category

    Early 20th Century Abstract Impressionist Landscape Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Canvas

  • Sunrise
    Located in Missouri, MO
    Sunrise, 1981 By. Jim Palmer (American, b. 1941) Signed and Dated Lower Right Unframed: 24" x 36" Framed: 30" x 42" Born in 1941 in Columbia, South Carolina, Jim Palmer attended the University of South Carolina in 1960 before going on to study at the Atlanta School of Art in 1964. In 1966 he and his wife moved to Hilton Head Island, the second artist to do so during the Island's early years. Since living here, he designed the cover of the Chamber of Commerce' Islander Magazine, has been a contributing artist to the Island Events Magazine, and has painted many Low Country scenes that grace homes and businesses throughout the country. Palmer was the illustrator for two books written by local authors: A Corner of South Carolina and Moonshadows. His work has been included in exhibits at the Hunter Museum in Chattanooga, TN; Mint Museum, Charlotte, NC; Southeastern Artists Exhibition, Atlanta, GA; Greenville County Art Museum, Greenville, SC; Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA; and Bay Hills Club, Orlando, FL. His paintings are part of the private collections of C&S National Banks in Columbia and Hilton Head Island; Banker's Trust Tower, Columbia, SC; Palmetto State Bank, Bluffton, SC, among others. Several paintings are also included in the collections of former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Dwight Eisenhower, former South Carolina Governor Robert McNair and singer John Denver.
    Category

    1980s American Modern Landscape Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Canvas

  • Seagulls (Birds in Flight)
    Located in Missouri, MO
    Seagulls (Birds in Flight), 1982 By. Jim Palmer (American, b. 1941) Signed and Dated Lower Right Unframed: 32" x 36" Framed: 37" x 42.5" Born in 1941 in Columbia, South Carolina, Jim Palmer attended the University of South Carolina in 1960 before going on to study at the Atlanta School of Art in 1964. In 1966 he and his wife moved to Hilton Head Island, the second artist to do so during the Island's early years. Since living here, he designed the cover of the Chamber of Commerce' Islander Magazine, has been a contributing artist to the Island Events Magazine, and has painted many Low Country scenes that grace homes and businesses throughout the country. Palmer was the illustrator for two books written by local authors: A Corner of South Carolina and Moonshadows. His work has been included in exhibits at the Hunter Museum in Chattanooga, TN; Mint Museum, Charlotte, NC; Southeastern Artists Exhibition, Atlanta, GA; Greenville County Art Museum, Greenville, SC; Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA; and Bay Hills Club, Orlando, FL. His paintings are part of the private collections of C&S National Banks in Columbia and Hilton Head Island; Banker's Trust Tower, Columbia, SC; Palmetto State Bank, Bluffton, SC, among others. Several paintings are also included in the collections of former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Dwight Eisenhower, former South Carolina Governor Robert McNair and singer John Denver.
    Category

    1980s American Modern Animal Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Canvas

  • Four White Hens
    By Paul E. Harney Jr.
    Located in Missouri, MO
    Four White Hens, 1914 By. Paul Harney (American, 1850-1915) Signed and Dated Lower Left Unframed: 18" x 24" Framed: 25.25" x 31.25" Paul Harney (1850-1915) Born in New Orleans on O...
    Category

    Early 20th Century American Realist Animal Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Canvas

  • The Andalusia
    By John Frederick Herring Sr.
    Located in Missouri, MO
    The Andalusia John Frederick Herring (English, 1795-1865) Signed Lower Right 14 x 18 inches 18 x 22 inches with frame Provenance: Frost &Reed, Ltd., London 1984 Herring, born in London in 1795, was the son of a London merchant of Dutch parentage, who had been born overseas in America. The first eighteen years of Herring's life were spent in London, where his greatest interests were drawing and horses.[2] In the year 1814, at the age of 18, he moved to Doncaster in the north of England, arriving in time to witness the Duke of Hamilton's "William" win the St. Leger Stakes horserace. By 1815, Herring had married Ann Harris; his sons John Frederick Herring Jr., Charles Herring, and Benjamin Herring were all to become artists, while his two daughters, Ann and Emma, both married painters. When she was barely of age in 1845 Ann married Harrison Weir. In Doncaster, England, Herring was employed as a painter of inn...
    Category

    Mid-19th Century English School Animal Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Canvas

  • Poor Man's Flock
    By George Chambers 1
    Located in Missouri, MO
    George W. Chambers “Poor Man’s Flock” 1897 Oil on Canvas 23.5 x 37.5 inches/42 x 57 inches framed approx. In Original Frame Provenance: The Artist thence by Descent; to Private Mi...
    Category

    1890s Victorian Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

You May Also Like
  • Hot Fox in the Henhouse - Large Scale Abstract Expressionist Painting
    By Wesley Kimler
    Located in Chicago, IL
    Wesley Kimler (born 1953) an American artist based in Chicago, Illinois, is known for his colossal paintings, up to 15 feet high and 27 feet wide. According to critic Kevin Nance, th...
    Category

    2010s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil

  • Fish in Coral Painting was made underwater
    Located in Zofingen, AG
    Underwater painting a new fast growing direction in contemporary art. Artwork was created underwater during scuba diving at the depth of 11.5 meters, session 74 minutes. By influence of underwater environment, feeling of no gravity, colorful impression, another reality - It feels different, brain works different, colors and shapes just blows your mind and you feel kind of explosion. Colors are environmentally friendly. Underwater art...
    Category

    2010s Abstract Impressionist Animal Paintings

    Materials

    Cotton Canvas, Oil

  • The Black Serpent
    Located in Long Island City, NY
    Max Mansell is an Aboriginal Australian artist. You can see a glimpse into the artist’s mind on the verso of this painting where he wrote; “The Land has dried up and the people can’t...
    Category

    1990s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • The Big Fish Eats The Little Fish, 1970s Abstracted Fish Framed Oil Painting
    By Edward Marecak
    Located in Denver, CO
    The Big Fish Eats The Little Fish, vintage 1976 oil on canvas abstract oil painting by 20th century Denver artist, Edward Maracek (1919-1993). Semi-abstract painting in vibrant color...
    Category

    1970s Abstract Abstract Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • FIGHTING ON HORSEBACK - Italian abstract oil on canvas painting. A. Pragliola
    By Alfonso Pragliola
    Located in Napoli, IT
    Fighting on horseback -Modern - Alfonso Pragliola Italia 2014 - Oil on canvas cm.60x40. Laquered wooden frame.
    Category

    2010s Abstract Abstract Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • Flock of Wagtails, Bird Painting, Abstract Art
    By Charlie Baird
    Located in Deddington, GB
    Charlie Baird original oil painting ‘Flock.’ Oil on canvas. Framed in a grey-white painted wooden frame – Width 1.5 cm, Depth 4.5 cm. Gulls in flight over sea. A painting featuring B...
    Category

    21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Impressionist Abstract Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

Recently Viewed

View All