Winslow Homer Original Antique American Realism Pen Ink Still Life Drawing on Laid Paper Potted Tropical Botanical Plant Signed Dated 1875

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Winslow Homer, American artist, (1836-1910), was the second of three sons of Charles Savage Homer and Henrietta Benson Homer, both from long lines of New Englanders. His mother was a gifted amateur watercolorist, and Homer's first teacher. She and her son had a close relationship throughout their lives. Homer took on many of her traits, including her quiet, strong-willed, terse, sociable nature; her dry sense of humor; and her artistic talent. Homer had a happy childhood, growing up mostly in rural Cambridge, Massachusetts. His art talent was evident even in his early years.

In 1859, he opened a studio in the Tenth Street Studio Building in New York City, the artistic and publishing capital of the United States. Until 1863, he attended classes at the National Academy of Design, and studied briefly with Frédéric Rondel, who taught him the basics of painting. In only about a year of self-training, Homer was producing excellent oil work. His mother tried to raise family funds to send him to Europe for further study but instead Harper's sent Homer to the front lines of the American Civil War (1861–1865), where he sketched battle scenes and camp life, the quiet moments as well as the chaotic ones. His initial sketches were of the camp, commanders, and army of the famous Union officer, Major General George B. McClellan, at the banks of the Potomac River in October, 1861.

Homer started painting with watercolors on a regular basis in 1873 during a summer stay in Gloucester, Massachusetts. From the beginning, his technique was natural, fluid and confident, demonstrating his innate talent for a difficult medium. His impact would be revolutionary. Here, again, the critics were puzzled at first, "A child with an ink bottle could not have done worse." Another critic said that Homer "made a sudden and desperate plunge into water color painting". But his watercolors proved popular and enduring, and sold more readily, improving his financial condition considerably. They varied from highly detailed ("Blackboard" – 1877) to broadly impressionistic ("Schooner at Sunset" – 1880). Some watercolors were made as preparatory sketches for oil paintings, (example: "Breezing Up"); and some as finished works in themselves. Thereafter, he seldom traveled without paper, brushes and water based paints.

Throughout the 1870's, Homer continued painting mostly rural or idyllic scenes of farm life, children playing, and young adults courting, including "Country School", (1871); and "The Morning Bell", (1872). In 1875, Homer quit working as a commercial illustrator and vowed to survive on his paintings and watercolors alone. Despite his excellent critical reputation, his finances continued to remain precarious.

In 1877, Homer exhibited for the first time at the Boston Art Club with the oil painting, "An Afternoon Sun"; (owned by the Artist). From 1877 through 1909, Homer exhibited often at the Boston Art Club.

Works on paper, both ink drawings and watercolors, were frequently exhibited by Homer beginning in 1882. A most unusual sculpture by the Artist, "Hunter with Dog - Northwoods", was exhibited in 1902. By that year, Homer had switched his primary Gallery from the Boston-based Doll and Richards to the New York City based Knoedler & Co.

While continuing to produce commercial illustrations until 1875, (and it is likely that this drawing may be a study for an illustration published by Homer); Winslow Homer increasingly concentrated his efforts on oil painting and watercolor. His paintings of contemporary life—including images of the Civil War, rural children, fashionable women, and modern leisure pursuits (such as croquet, hiking, and hunting)—as well as his loosely painted realistic style earned Homer critical acclaim as one of the nation’s most progressive and original artists.

The leisure and rural subjects that dominated his art during the late 1860's and 1870's are showcased in ink drawings, wood engravings, watercolors, and an oil painting.


Winslow Homer
(1836-1910)
American
Ink/Pen Drawing/Study on Laid Paper
Botanical, Potted Plant, Still Life
Signed and Dated Upper Left
Dated 7/8/(18)75 (During this time, was common for the month to be placed in the middle, and day first. Whether it is August 7th, 1875, or July 8th, 1875 is unknown, at this point.
Potted Plant
Drawing measures approximately 9"X11.5" Showing from behind original mat.
Actual measurements of drawing, without frame, are 9"X12"
Antique craftsman wood frame that smells like an old wooden piano. Old antique mat that was not acid free has been replaced with new black fabric mat.

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