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"Circus", Large and Ambitious Painting by John B. Lear w/ Male Nudes, 1965

$18,500

£14,012.03

€16,092.34

CA$25,924.55

A$28,185.21

CHF 14,943.83

MX$337,869.24

NOK 189,928.44

SEK 174,000.27

DKK 120,269.83

About the Item

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 surreal, seaside landscape. Two of the three are looking with confidence and candor at the viewer, while the third -- a gray, ghostly figure -- is facing away. This painting is especially large and handsomely framed, and was exhibited at the Philadelphia Art Alliance's 50th Anniversary Regional exhibition in 1965-1966. Lear's earliest works are often in oil, but later he moved to watercolor -- as here -- and later still to pencil and colored pencil. He retained a fascination with the male nude, though his depiction of the male figure changed over the years -- from long and lean bodies, as here, to stockier figures in later years. Lear liked to depict his figures 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. However, Lear is having a moment now, and his works are increasingly sought after by collectors. The piece is watercolor on paper, and is signed. Dimensions include matte and frame; visible painting is 17.5 inches high by 25.5 inches wide.

Creator:
John B. Lear (Painter)
Dimensions:
Height: 26.25 in (66.68 cm)Width: 35.25 in (89.54 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Paint,Painted
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
1960-1969
Date of Manufacture:
1965
Condition:
Seller Location:
Philadelphia, PA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU865139680732

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