Florence Smithburn Oil on Unstretched Canvas "Portrait Study"

Item Details

Florence Bartley Smithburn (Indiana; 1904-1989)
Portrait Study, mid 20th century
Oil on unstretched canvas
Signed to lower left and to verso
Titled and inscribed to verso

A mid 20-century oil painting on unstretched canvas titled Portrait Study by listed American artist Florence Bartley Smithburn (Indiana; 1904-1989). This nearly half-length portrait features a three-quarter view of a brunette woman situated in front of a patterned backdrop. Signed ‘Florence B. Smithburn’ to the lower left, the work is also signed ‘F.B. Smithburn’ to the canvas verso. An inscribed descriptive label from the American Fine Arts Society is also adhered to the canvas verso. The unstretched canvas remains unframed.

Florence Smithburn studied art the John Herron Art School in Indianapolis, Indiana, before moving to Uganda for ten years, recording the African tribal way of life with her artwork. Her experiences living in Africa and the United States ultimately shaped her artistic oeuvre, as her art continued to address socio-economic and political issues relevant to the times. Her work has been exhibited widely in Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Atlanta, New York, and Indianapolis and has been included in the collections of the Georgia Museum of Art and the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Condition

- small spots of paint loss scattered throughout; perforations throughout margins of canvas from previous stretching; fraying to edges of canvas.

Dimensions

- measurement of unstretched canvas; painted image measures approximately 18" W x 22" H.

Item #

18DCC632-055