Driftwood on the Bagaduce
- Date
- 1939–40
- Material
- Oil on canvas
- depicts
- Maine, United States, North and Central America
- made in
- Maine, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Paintings
- Collection
- American Art
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 334
- Dimensions
- 30 3/16 × 40 3/16 in. (76.6 × 102 cm)
framed: 36 1/2 × 46 1/2 in. (92.7 × 118.1 cm) - Credit Line
- Gift of Morton D. May
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 387:1955
NOTES
The dry branches of driftwood and harsh black outlines give this image an angular and frenetic energy. Artist Marsden Hartley reduced nature to essential forms and a stark color palette. In 1937, Hartley returned to Maine, his native state and the location of the Bagaduce River represented in this painting. Hartley asserted, “I wish to declare myself the painter from Maine.” His subsequent works, like this one, explore the landscape, seas, and natural elements that characterize the state.
Provenance
1941
Macbeth Gallery, New York, NY [1]
by 1944 –
Paul Rosenberg & Company, New York, NY [2]
by 1948 - 1955
Morton D. May (1914–1983), St. Louis, MO, purchased from Paul Rosenberg & Company [3]
1955 –
Saint Louis Art Museum, gift of Morton D. May [4]
Notes
[1] Lender is Macbeth Gallery in exhibition catalog, “Marsden Hartley, Stuart Davis,” Cincinnati Modern Art Society, Oct 24 – Nov 24, 1941.
[2] Research notes in Elizabeth McCausland Papers indicate painting was in possession of Paul Rosenberg in June 1944, on June 25, 1945 and on March 23, 1951 (although 1951 date conflicts with Morton D. May as lender to 1948 exhibition). [Elizabeth McCausland Papers, 1838-1955, Archives of American Art, Series 6, Box 15, Folder 53; photocopy SLAM document files].
[3] Morton D. May listed as lender in exhibition catalogue [St Louis Collections: an Exhibition of 20th Century Art, September 20 – October 25, 1948, Bulletin of the City Art Museum of St. Louis, Vol. 33, No. 3, p. 7].
[4] Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, December 8, 1955.
Macbeth Gallery, New York, NY [1]
by 1944 –
Paul Rosenberg & Company, New York, NY [2]
by 1948 - 1955
Morton D. May (1914–1983), St. Louis, MO, purchased from Paul Rosenberg & Company [3]
1955 –
Saint Louis Art Museum, gift of Morton D. May [4]
Notes
[1] Lender is Macbeth Gallery in exhibition catalog, “Marsden Hartley, Stuart Davis,” Cincinnati Modern Art Society, Oct 24 – Nov 24, 1941.
[2] Research notes in Elizabeth McCausland Papers indicate painting was in possession of Paul Rosenberg in June 1944, on June 25, 1945 and on March 23, 1951 (although 1951 date conflicts with Morton D. May as lender to 1948 exhibition). [Elizabeth McCausland Papers, 1838-1955, Archives of American Art, Series 6, Box 15, Folder 53; photocopy SLAM document files].
[3] Morton D. May listed as lender in exhibition catalogue [St Louis Collections: an Exhibition of 20th Century Art, September 20 – October 25, 1948, Bulletin of the City Art Museum of St. Louis, Vol. 33, No. 3, p. 7].
[4] Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, December 8, 1955.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.