An original Portait Painting by Theodore Van Soelen of Dr. Henry Dunham, 1921
Item Details
An original portrait painting by Theodore Van Soelen (1890-1964) of Dr. Henry Kennon Dunham, dated 1921. Theodore Van Soelen is renowned both for being both a Taos landscape painter and portrait artist. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Van Soelen studied art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art then in Europe after receiving a scholarship. At the outbreak of World War I, he returned home only to be shipwrecked off the coast of Ireland causing a case of pneumonia which was followed by tuberculosis. Van Soelen returned home and moved west to improve his health and began his life long love of painting western landscapes. In the early 1920’s, Van Soelen had a one man exhibit at the Cincinnati Art Museum gaining him national recognition and allowed him to eventually open a second studio in Cornwall, Connecticut to make his work more available to his east coast clients.
This impressively large portrait of Dr. Henry Kennon Dunham shows the doctor in a military uniform, seated facing the right with his legs casually crossed. His kind gaze is forward and he holds a magnifying glass resting on his knee. Dr Henry Dunham was one of the country’s leading researchers in the causes and treatment of tuberculosis in the early 1900’s. The original hospital designated to tuberculosis patients in Price Hill (Cincinnati) is now a recreation center named the Dunham Recreation Complex in recognition of the late doctor. The portrait painting is in the original frame and is signed by the artist in top right hand corner and dated 1921.
A personal letter written to Dr. and Mrs. Dunham by the artist from his Cornwall, Connecticut studio is also included with the painting.
Condition
, to good for age with some craquelure.
Dimensions
, the measurements refer to the image alone. The framed measurements are 41" high x 45" wide.
Item #
14CIN022-007
