Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5

"Three Men in Tatters, " Surrealist Painting with Semi-Nude Figures by Lear

$2,100
£1,593.43
€1,821.95
CA$2,933.13
A$3,261.24
CHF 1,702.84
MX$39,697.26
NOK 21,727.51
SEK 20,357.63
DKK 13,597.52
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

Over his long career, John Lear liked to depict nude or half-nude male figures set in fantastic or exotic environments such as the circus, carnival, deserted beach, or Dali-esque setting. A contemporary of Paul Cadmus, and like him, highly focused on depicting the male figure in various settings and positions, Lear never gained fame beyond his circle of admirers in the Philadelphia area. This watercolor, finely detailed and subtly painted, depicts three semi-nude men, their lean frames indicating that this is an early example of Lear's work. This painting has been elaborately matted and framed. (Dimensions include frame).
  • Creator:
    John B. Lear (Painter)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 18 in (45.72 cm)Width: 17 in (43.18 cm)Depth: 0.75 in (1.91 cm)
  • Style:
    Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 1950s
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    Philadelphia, PA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU86518845893

More From This Seller

View All
"Trio, " Rare and Early Oil Painting of Three Nudes in Surreal Landscape by Lear
By John B. Lear
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A contemporary of Paul Cadmus, and like him, highly focused on depicting the male figure in various settings and positions, John Lear never gained fame beyond his circle of admirers ...
Category

Vintage 1950s American Art Deco Paintings

Materials

Canvas

"Circus", Large and Ambitious Painting by John B. Lear w/ Male Nudes, 1965
By John B. Lear
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This early and ambitious watercolor painting by John B. Lear shows the growing scale and detail of his best work, here incorporating three nude and semi-nude male figures in a surrea...
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Paint

"Red Tape", Early and Important Surrealist Painting by John Lear w/ Male Nudes
By John B. Lear
Located in Philadelphia, PA
One of the finest, and certainly the earliest painting by John Lear that we have seen or offered, this image depicts three male nude figures connected by a trailing line of red ribbo...
Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Paint

"Dance of the Three Nudes, " Art Deco-Mannerist Drawing w/ Male Figures, 1935
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Drawn in rich, ruddy sanguine, and with a confident, bravura hand, this depiction of three nude males -- all exaggeratedly tall and elastic-limbed -- shows the figures engaging in a ...
Category

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Drawings

Materials

Paper

"Confrontation", Mid Century Drawing w/ Half Nude Male in Surreal Setting, 1984
By John B. Lear
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Although John Lear entitled this drawing "Confrontation," the half-nude male figure and the falcon on the other end of his bright red leash are contemplating each other with placidit...
Category

Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Drawings

Materials

Paper

"Nudes Suspended", Early, Surrealist Drawing w/ Male Nudes by John B. Lear
By John B. Lear
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Early, important and finely drawn, this piece by John B. Lear depicts two fully nude male figures suspended among the branches of two trees, each figure demonstrating the care with w...
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Drawings

Materials

Paper

You May Also Like

John Lear Watercolor "Aftermath"
By John B. Lear
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Large John B. Lear watercolor, "Aftermath". Painted in the early 1960's, probably one of his most provocative and important works! Jesus on the Cross is a common theme in LGBT Christ...
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Paint

Homoerotic scene with three male nude figures by Silvia Volpini, Italy 1991
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a large scale canvas depicting three nude male figures. This homoerotic scene is done in oil pastels on canvas by the Italian artist Silvia Volpini in 1...
Category

1990s Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas

Three Figures
Located in London, GB
Watercolour and pencil on paper, 76cm x 51cm, (87cm x 61cm framed). Born in London to his renowned artist mother Elisabeth Frink RA and a French architect father, Michel Jammet, Ja...
Category

1990s Post-War Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Mid-Century Robert Broner Oil Painting with with 3 Figures
By Robert Broner
Located in New York, NY
1948 3 figure oil painting by the artist Robert Broner (1922-2010). Broner has pieces in the collections of the MOMA, Guggenheim, Metropolitian Musuem of...
Category

Vintage 1940s American Paintings

Materials

Wood

Herman Volz Lithograph 3 Figures
By Herman Roderick Volz 1
Located in Fulton, CA
Black and white lithograph by Herman Roderick Volz of 3 standing figures, Circa 1960's. Pencil signed. Unframed. Works held: National Gallery of Art. Crystal Bridges Museum of Art...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Prints

Materials

Paper

Great Oil on Canvas Sicilian Artist Salvatore Mulè Nude Characters, 1972
By Salvatore Mulè
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Great oil on Canvas Sicilian artist Salvatore mulè nude characters 1972. Salvatore Mulè was born in Erice on 2/9/1954. In 1973 he obtained the maxim...
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Paint