Sylvia Spicuzza

"Vase of Flowers on Chartreuse Tablecloth, " Watercolor signed by Sylvia Spicuzza

c. 1950

In this small painting, Sylvia Spicuzza presents the viewer with a simple trillium flower, the white petals framed by blue-green leaves. 10 x 7.25 inches, artwork 19.75 x 17.25 inch...

14.75 x 17.75 inches, artwork 22.88 x 25.75 inches, frame Born in 1908, Sylvia Spicuzza was the daughter of noted painter Francesco Spicuzza. Sylvia devoted herself to teaching art ...

This still life is an unusual example of Sylvia Spicuzza's work, as most of her most significant output are geometric and biomorphic abstract images. The objects in the image - a sea shell, a pitcher, a heavy necklace - are objects the artist likely had at home and staged for the image. But of particular significance is the insertion of the artist's hand, as though she was reaching into the still life while she was painting. The hand has been a significant symbol of the artist throughout art history as a source of creation: Albrecht Dürer's 'Self Portrait at the Age of Twenty-Eight' (1500) highlights the artist's hand much like traditional images of Christ giving gestures of blessing. Likewise, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's 'Self Portrait as a Soldier' (1915) shows the artist in military uniform but with a severed hand as a symbol of helplessness during the First World War. Another important comparison, given Spicuzza is a Midwestern artist, is Ivan Albright's magic realist work 'That Which I Should Have Done I Did Not Do (The Door)' at the Art Institute of Chicago. The massive painting...

In the 1960s, Sylvia Spicuzza made several watercolor abstractions with biomorphic qualities like the one presented here. This example takes on the appearance of a flower, while the ...

Still Life with Tromp L'Oeil Graphite and watercolor on a book page. Signed in ink by the artist lower right corner (see photo) Provenance: Estate of the artist (Estate No. 00916 verso) Ray Sommer (the artist's son) Joseph M. Erdelac (No. 18 JME verso) Book page verso is an illustration of a Durer woodcut...

Four pencil drawings, each with hand coloring in watercolor, each 6 3/4 x 10 inches (sheet) (172 x 254 mm), full margins. Each with inscriptions and notations by the artist in the up...

White Poppies - Botanical Watercolor on Paper Detailed floral watercolor by Harry Federico (American, 1922-2022). Several white poppies ...

Bob Stuth-Wade: Tribute to Morandi, 2018 "Life is what happens while I'm thinking of something else." "Driving. Listening to the radio. Talking on the phone. Thinking of where I'm ...