March Fine Classic Sale
Lot 44:
Description
Signed Boardman Robinson Oil on Paper study for mural commission in Colorado Springs
Old Label On the reverse reads "This is a study, oil on paper, for a figure in a mural in the Kaufman dept. Store, Pittsburgh, Pa. "History of Commerce. …..Purchased in Colorado Springs 1941."
Frame: 27"H x 20"W Art Visible: 18.5"H x 11.5"W
Part of an article written by the Colorado Springs Fine Art Center at Colorado College:
The second floor will featured The History of Commerce, a 10-panel mural by the internationally renowned Boardman Robinson. The mural was commissioned in 1929 by businessman Edgar J. Kaufmann, perhaps best known for his Pennsylvania home, Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural masterpiece built in 1936.
Soon after completing the mural, Robinson moved to Colorado Springs and served as the director of the prestigious Broadmoor Art Academy, and its successor, the Fine Arts Center School, from 1930-1947.
The panels – each measuring 8’ x 15’ – were originally displayed at the Kaufmann’s department store in downtown Pittsburgh; this will be the first time all 10 panels have been displayed together in decades.
Here’s how Time Magazine described the murals in a Nov. 25, 1929, article: “Beginning with an animated commercial squabble between the Persians and the Arabs, they progress to Carthaginians in the Mediterranean striking a crafty bargain with the Egyptians. Venetians in the Levant when bartering was done with benefit of clergy so that polite thieving was sanctified. Subsequently they show the Portuguese in India, the Dutch in the Baltic, and the English in China, slave traders and clipper ships in the 19th Century U. S. The last is a generalized scene of modern industry— liners in a harbor, airplanes in the air, tall buildings rearing in the background, a sweating structural steel crew. Each unit is related to the whole by composition and color
Boardman Robinson (1876–1952) was a Canadian-American artist, illustrator, and educator. He is best known for his powerful and socially conscious murals, editorial cartoons, and illustrations.
In the early years of the 20th century, Robinson emerged as a leading illustrator and editorial cartoonist, often addressing the pressing social and political issues of his time. He worked for publications like the New York Tribune, where he created a number of significant anti-war and social justice illustrations, particularly during World War I. His work frequently touched on themes of labor rights, war, and the plight of the working class.
In the 1930s, Robinson was also a significant figure in the American mural movement, creating large-scale works that often conveyed socially relevant themes. He incorporated influences from various art movements, such as the Renaissance and modern European styles.
Robinson’s influence also extended to education. He taught at the Art Students League of New York and later at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
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click here. We have a few shippers who operate on the east coast with competitive pricing: Andrew Prial, Paul Bzwadka, and Joe Garden. These names are listed on our site. All items are sold
as is. Conditions of the items are generally commensurate with age and use. Please examine the photos carefully and do not hesitate to ask questions. You are also welcome to visit us from
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Condition: good, mounted behind glass . not removed for further evaluation
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