Mary Sigsbee Ker Original Oil on Panel "The Kiss" with Provenance

Item Details

An outstanding early 20th century oil on panel illustration by Mary Sigsbee-Ker (American, 1876-1960), ostensibly titled ‘The Kiss’. The work is a glowing example from the Golden Age of American Illustration, depicting a pair of children kissing over a fence- a quintessential subject for Sigsbee Ker, who worked primarily as an illustrator. The work is housed in a wood frame with an original (and period fitting) art nouveau tin overlay, having embossed shell decoration to the corners. The frame is marked ‘531’ and ‘P. Chanal’ to the perimeter, and is a fine and unusual example of this method. Several family and collector notes are attached to verso.

Mary Sigsbee Ker was a New Orleans born artist who studied at the Arts Students League in New York, most notably under the tutelage of famed illustrator Howard Pyle (American, 1853-1911). Like so many early 20th century artists, she found work in illustration, and her paintings can be found in the The Saturday Evening Post, Collier’s Magazine, The American Magazine and several other popular publications of the day. Her favored subject were that of children. Sigsbee Ker married several other well known artists later in life, and so her signature varied according to marital status throughout her career.

Sigsbee Ker was one of the few American woman to have a work exhibited at the Paris Salon, and she spent a good portion of her career in Paris. Therefore, it is feasible that she may have been an acquaintance with Gertrude Stein (American, 1874-1946), the famed expatriate, novelist and Bohemian socialite. Although unsubstantiated, a fascinating letter detailing the painting’s history of ownership is included on verso.

The letter states that the painting was given by Gertrude Stein to Louise Addis, a well-to-do amateur musician who knew and associated with Stein. There is evidence in Stein’s correspondence that the two were friends, and that Stein gave Addis works of art on occasion to bring back to the States. However, no mention is made of ‘The Kiss’, nor was this particular work located in records of Stein’s collection. Stein was a voracious collector, and her entire collection, and gifts she made, were certainly not all recorded.

Eventually, the painting was purported to have been left to the Whittemore’s of Boston, who in turn left it to another Ms. Malva, and then gifted to the current owner, where it surfaces today. This particular work does not appear to have been published in illustration form. An exceptional example by an accomplished female American illustrator.

Condition

- some areas of minor paint separation due to heat exposure. Varnish generally darkened and yellowed and could stand a light cleaning. A few areas of surface film or mold, especially to lower left quadrant of painting. Frame overlay with some nicks and denting.

Dimensions

includes frame
visible art: 15.5″×19.5″

Item #

17BOS028-183