Items Similar to On the Beach Baroque Style Figurative
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 8
Ben MessickOn the Beach Baroque Style Figurative1940
1940
About the Item
Study of a female nude in the Baroque style, by acclaimed California artist Ben Messick (American, 1891-1981). Signed "Ben Messick 40" in plate and pencil lower left, by the estate. Unframed. Image size, 4.75"L x 10.5"H; overall mat size is, 16"L x 20"H. Some foxing to over-mat.
The following is submitted by Jim Lafferty whose sources include the autobiography of the artist:
William Washington Messick married Sarah A. Bristow January 2,1889 and from this marriage a son, Benjamin Newton Messick was born on January 9, 1891 on a farm near Strafford, Missouri. His art talent was apparent from the time he was a child and later recognized by his commanding officer in World War I. He completed his training in Los Angeles at Chouinard in the late-1920s and is well-known for his Regionalist scenes and Modernist paintings. He was an instructor at Chouinard through the 1950s & influenced a generation of LA Modernists.
Little is recorded in his autobiography about Messick's life from his teen years and service during the War. He enrolled at Chouinard Institute in the Fall of 1925, and was given a three-year scholarship by Mrs. Chouinard. In 1925 he won a cash award at the Los Angeles County Fair for a group of pen and charcoal drawings done in the parks and streets of Los Angeles. These works give the appearance of being spontaneous and fluid.
In 1930 Messick left Chouinard as a full-time student and rented an apartment on West Eighth Street to use as a studio and living quarters. He had his own ideas on what he was trying to accomplish in art. "If you should ask what is the message of my drawings, I should say that they may explain themselves or may be just a technical exercise."
By the mid 1940s, Messick's position in the art world had been well established as a teacher, painter, printmaker, writer and critic. Over his life time he had over 400 shows and exhibitions. Starting in 1939 he produced a number of stone lithographs that appear to the untrained eye as original drawings. To Messick the image was the most important aspect of his lithographs, and his signature in the plate was sufficient. Hand signing each lithograph did not seem necessary to him. He exhibited prints widely including the Albany Print Club and the Metropolitian Museum.
To further substantiate the authenticity of Messick's prints the Eclectic Gallery under the authority of the Messick family posthumously pencil signed each estate-acquired stone lithograph.
Messick had a childhood fascination with the circus and started drawing and painting the circus in 1935. His circus work, especially his clown studies, and his lithographs became his trademark work for in the 1940s and 1950s. A critic for ART REVIEW described his Big Top work this way: "His circus canvases, however, are his most interesting and show where Messick's interest lies. His clown portraits are worthy of time and study because of the endless change he has caught in each face and for the underlying character that shines through the grotesque paint."
As early as 1941, paintings by Messick were exhibiting elements of modernism in that his brush work was less labored and the style more expressionist. They often incorporated a degree of mysticism. This is evident in a series of clown portraits he did on tear-off palette paper. He called these works his Serendipity paintings.
Note:
In art reference literature the artist's birth year is often quoted as 1901. He apparently had made up this date when he was in art school and a lot older than his classmates. Velma Messick discovered the truth when she saw his driver's licence. (from a biography askART, submitted by Jim Lafferty whose sources include the autobiography of the artist:)
- Creator:Ben Messick (1891 - 1981, American)
- Creation Year:1940
- Dimensions:Height: 20 in (50.8 cm)Width: 16 in (40.64 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:Very good with some age wear to mat.
- Gallery Location:Soquel, CA
- Reference Number:
Ben Messick
Benjamin Newton Messick was born on January 9, 1891, on a farm near Strafford, Missouri. His art talent was apparent from the time he was a child and later recognized by his commanding officer in World War I. Little is recorded in his autobiography about Messick's life from his teen years and service during the War. He enrolled at Chouinard Institute in the Fall of 1925 and was given a three-year scholarship by Mrs. Chouinard. In 1925, he won a cash award at the Los Angeles County Fair for a group of pen and charcoal drawings done in the parks and streets of Los Angeles. These works give the appearance of being spontaneous and fluid. In 1930, Messick left Chouinard as a full-time student and rented an apartment on West Eighth Street to use as a studio and living quarters. He had his ideas on what he was trying to accomplish in art, “If you should ask what is the message of my drawings, I should say that they may explain themselves or maybe just a technical exercise.” By the mid-1940s, Messick's position in the art world had been well established as a teacher, painter, printmaker, writer and critic. Over his lifetime, he had over 400 shows and exhibitions. Starting in 1939, he produced several stone lithographs that appear to the untrained eye as original drawings. To Messick, the image was the most important aspect of his lithographs, and his signature on the plate was sufficient. Hand signing each lithograph did not seem necessary to him. He exhibited prints widely, including the Albany Print Club and the Metropolitan Museum. To further substantiate the authenticity of Messick's prints the Eclectic Gallery under the authority of the Messick family posthumously signed each estate-acquired stone lithograph. Messick had a childhood fascination with the circus and started drawing and painting the circus in 1935. His circus work, especially his clown studies, and his lithographs became his trademark work in the 1940s and 1950s. Messick died in 1981 in Apple Valley, California.
About the Seller
4.9
Platinum Seller
These expertly vetted sellers are 1stDibs' most experienced sellers and are rated highest by our customers.
Established in 1986
1stDibs seller since 2014
2,523 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: <1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Soquel, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- "Sister Water" - St Francis of Assisi LinocutLocated in Soquel, CA"Sister Water" - St Francis of Assisi Linocut Wood Black pring of St Francis by Italian artist (printer of Assisi) Gastone Vignati (Italian, 20C)...Category
1990s Baroque Figurative Prints
MaterialsInk, Linocut, Paper
- Penny's Rainbow Lane - Vintage 1960's Abstract Psychedelic Pop Art PosterBy Peter MaxLocated in Soquel, CAPenny's Rainbow Lane - Vintage 1960's Abstract Psychedelic Pop Art Poster Take a trip down rainbow lane with this bold and beautiful authentic 1967 P...Category
1960s Pop Art Abstract Prints
MaterialsInk, Paper
- Running Through the Field with a Kite - Multi Layer Etching on PaperBy Alan SanbornLocated in Soquel, CADetailed multi-layer etching by Alan Sanborn (American, b. 1950). A woman is running through a lush field, holding a kite. The outlines are slightly jitte...Category
1970s Modern Figurative Prints
MaterialsInk, Etching, Paper
- "Saddle Bags", Limited Edition Mixed Media Modern Pop Art Collotype, 4/6By Maureen Fenton-HansenLocated in Soquel, CA"Saddle Bags", Limited Edition Mixed Media Modern Pop Art Collotype, 4/6 "Saddle Bags", a unique limited edition mixed media collotype on paper and machi...Category
1970s Pop Art Figurative Prints
MaterialsThread, Paper, Printer's Ink
- Native American Figurative Woodblock -- The Weaver #3/12By Virginia J HughinsLocated in Soquel, CAWonderful woodblock print titled "Weaver" by Aptos, California artist Virginia J Hughins,(Virginia Brubaker DeWolf), (American, 1923-2004), circa 1990. Presented in a rustic black wo...Category
1990s American Impressionist Figurative Prints
MaterialsInk, Paper
- "Space And Space" - 1988 Offset Lithograph on PaperBy Susumu ENDOLocated in Soquel, CA"Space And Space" - 1988 Offset Lithograph on Paper Offset lithograph titled "Space and Space" by Susumu Endo (Japanese, B- 1933). Two bottles are depicte...Category
1980s Impressionist Figurative Prints
MaterialsLithograph, Ink, Paper
You May Also Like
- Jacques Callot ( 1592-1635 ) - Travelling Gypsies - Etching FranceBy Jacques CallotLocated in Meinisberg, CHJacques Callot (French, 1592-1635) ‘ Ne voila pas de braves messagers qui vont errants par pays étrangers ? / Are these not fine messengers, straying through foreign lands ? ‘ • A...Category
18th Century Baroque Figurative Prints
MaterialsInk, Laid Paper
- The Harvest, Cherubs Disporting with a Goat, Fine Framed 18th Century EngravingBy Jean Jacques Lagrenée the YoungerLocated in Cotignac, FRFine 18th century engraving by French artist Jean-Jacques Lagrenée. Presented with hand cut mount and gilt filet in fine wood and gilt 'ribbon and reed' frame. Very charming renditi...Category
Mid-18th Century Baroque Figurative Prints
MaterialsPrinter's Ink, Paper
- Jacob beholds Joseph's bloody robeBy Niccolo Schiavonetti jr.Located in Frankfurt am Main, DENiccolò Schiavonetti (1771 Bassano del Grappa, Italien - 1813 London) after Guercino: Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (1591 Cento/Ferrara - 1666 Bologna), Jacob beholds Joseph's bloody r...Category
Mid-19th Century Baroque Figurative Prints
MaterialsPaper, Etching
- "Portrait of a Man" original engraving by Italian Baroque artist CastiglioneBy Giovanni Benedetto CastiglioneLocated in Milwaukee, WIThis is an excellent example of the kind of portraiture produced by Castiglione during the early part of the 17th century. In the image, we see the visage of a man with a mustache, wearing a fur-lined hat topped with a feathery decoration. The image is reminiscent of the work of Rembrandt van Rijn, himself known for his portraits in the form of etchings. 4 x 3.5 inches, image 15.25 x 13.25 inches, frame Inscribed "GC" in the plate, lower left This impression is from the edition ca. 1825 from the original plate of ca. 1635. Unlike many Italian artists, Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione was profoundly influenced by foreigners. He first studied with local artists in his native Genoa, absorbing not only Tuscan Mannerism and Caravaggism but also the style of Peter Paul Rubens, who had worked in Genoa. From 1621 Castiglione also worked in Anthony van Dyck's Genoa studio. Early on, he was attracted to Flemish animal...Category
17th Century Baroque Figurative Prints
MaterialsEtching
- Saint Bartholomew, Old Master, Oil Print, Ribera, Figurative Art, Spanish ArtBy Jusepe de RiberaLocated in Greven, DEOld Master An Oil Print after a Painting by Jusepe de Ribera in the Museo del Prado, Spain. This is an early print after the original.Category
20th Century Baroque Figurative Prints
MaterialsOil, Canvas
- Portrait de Fanny Charrin /// French Impressionist Art Nouveau Lady Woman GirlLocated in Saint Augustine, FLArtist: Malo-Renault (French, 1870-1938) Title: "Portrait de Fanny Charrin" Portfolio: Gazette des Beaux-Arts *Issued unsigned Year: 1909 Medium: Original Etching and Drypoint on wov...Category
Early 1900s Baroque Figurative Prints
MaterialsIntaglio, Drypoint, Etching
