Henry Faulkner Oil and Casein Painting on Board "Gift from de Gaulle"
Item Details
Henry Faulkner (American; 1924-1981)
Gift from de Gaulle
Oil and casein on masonite
Signed to lower right
12.5’ W x 14.5’ H
A rare oil and casein portrait on masonite board titled Gift from de Gaulle by well-known Lexington-based poet and Modernist Henry Faulkner (American, 1924 – 1981), created in the mid-20th century. Based off a photograph of J.F.K., Jr. that was displayed on the cover of a November 1961 issue of Life Magazine, this work portrays an infant playing with some toys reportedly from Charles de Gaulle, imbued with the artist’s whimsical style and interpretation. Although it features a unique and rare subject for the artist, the composition exemplifies Faulkner’s signature style of stark black outlines and rough planes of vibrant colors. Included in the artist’s limited oeuvre of portraits are paintings of other Kennedy family members including John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy. Signed to the lower right, the work is presented in a wood frame with a gilt and gesso liner featuring intricate foliate moulding. The consignor confirms that this work was exhibited at a show dedicated to Henry Faulkner at the Hunt-Morgan House in Lexington, Kentucky. Included with the painting is a copy of the Life Magazine issue featuring the picture of J.F.K., Jr. on which the painting is based.
Born in Appalachia, Kentucky, Henry Lawrence Faulkner is remembered as an eccentric rebel who shared a love for artistry, poetry, nature and animals. With the death of his mother in 1926, the artist and his nine siblings were orphaned; during childhood, he was raised in foster homes in Louisville and the Kentucky Children’s Home. At age 15, he was awarded a scholarship to study at the Louisville School of Art. Later on, he studied with Millard Sheets, Margaret Montgomery, Pierre Sicard, and others at the Los Angeles Art Institute. After moving to Lexington in 1956, his unique whimsical style continued to grow and the artist painted until his unexpected death in 1981. His work is scattered throughout public and private collections in Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, New York, and internationally.
Condition
- some wear to frame includes finish loss, scratches, and stains scattered throughout; chips throughout frame moulding.
Dimensions
- measurement of frame; visible image measures approximately 12.5" W x 14.5" H.
Item #
17DCC300-342
