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Herndon Davis

1901-1962

Herndon Davis was an American artist, journalist, illustrator and painter who wasn’t recognized in his lifetime and not until recently. He was born in Wynnewood, Oklahoma of rancher parents. At fourteen, Davis moved himself to Kansas City, Missouri to take art lessons. He supported himself with unskilled labor jobs. From there, he went to Chicago and apprenticed as an engraver and commercial artist. In 1920, he joined the army and was stationed in Denver. Davis’ love for Colorado and Denver must have begun at that time. But first, he lived and worked in Washington, D.C., where he worked at the National War Collaege creating maps of China and Japan, and New York City, where he attended the National Academy of Design and Art Students League of New York while working at the New York Herald Tribune, Washington Times-Herald and Washington Daily News. In 1936, he moved to Denver, where he began to capture in paint and pencil notable people and landmarks of Denver and the west. Included in his subject matter were the notorious and the famous whether people or places. Davis is best known for his painting of the face of his wife on the barroom floor in Central City, Colorado. It was inspired by the poem The Face on the Barroom Floor and so it is titled. It wasn’t until after his death that friends were allowed to tell his beloved wife, Nita, was his model.

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Creator: Herndon Davis
1940s Painting by Colorado Artist Herndon Davis of Industrial Interior
1940s Painting by Colorado Artist Herndon Davis of Industrial Interior

1940s Painting by Colorado Artist Herndon Davis of Industrial Interior

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Located in Topeka, KS

Incredible 1940s painting by Colorado artist Herndon Davis depicting an industrial interior and workers. It is in wonderful vintage condition, but you...

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Mid-20th Century American Industrial Herndon Davis

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Herndon Davis furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Herndon Davis furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Herndon Davis furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Herndon Davis were created in the industrial style in united states during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by A.J. Nystrom & Co, Denoyer-Geppert, and Karen Brown. Prices for Herndon Davis furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $6,995 and can go as high as $6,995, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $6,995.