💜Laissez les bons temps rouler!💚

Let`s celebrate Fat Tuesday with a look at John McCrady`s lithograph "Carnival in New Orleans" (1947) from the permanent collection!
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Let`s celebrate Fat Tuesday with "Carnival in New Orleans" by artist John McCrady from the permanent collection.
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John McCrady (1911-1968) has often been referred to as one of the most important New Orleans artists of the 1930s and 1940s. He was born in Canton, Mississippi, where his father served as the minister. Due to this profession, the family lived in various rural areas throughout Mississippi and Louisiana during McCrady’s childhood. In turn, McCrady often explored the relationship between religion and man through his art.

In 1928, his father became head of the philosophy department at the University of Mississippi in Oxford. The following year, McCrady became a student. Additionally, while visiting his brother during the summers, he took classes at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1931 and 1932. McCrady soon decided to devote himself to becoming an artist, moved to New Orleans, and enrolled in the New Orleans Art School. After only one year, McCrady won a scholarship to the Art Students League in New York. Although he immersed himself in the study of painting, McCrady soon realized he desired to return to the South to live and work. He was very proud of his Southern heritage and depicted scenes of Southern life throughout his career.

After his return to New Orleans in 1934, McCrady was employed by the Federal Art Project, painting public murals. His big break came the following year when he participated in an exhibition at Philadelphia’s Boyer Galleries titled “Thirty-five Painters of the Deep South.” Afterwards, he was featured in articles in Newsweek, Time, and Life magazines. In turn, McCrady soon became the most prominent Regionalist representing the South. In 1942, he established the John McCrady Art School in the French Quarter in New Orleans. Throughout the fifties and sixties, McCrady focused on teaching at his school and writing about his artistic philosophies and techniques.
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Also Shown:
John McCrady in his studio, date unknown. ...

Happy Presidents Day from the Norton🇺🇸

To commemorate, let`s take a closer look at "George Washington," attributed to artist Jane Stuart!
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The face of our first president, George Washington, has become familiar due to the immortalizing portrait of him painted by Gilbert Stuart in the mid-18th century. What isn’t familiar is the name Jane Stuart (1812-1888), Gilbert’s daughter, who was a painter herself. Although she created her own compositions and even held her own studio, Jane is best known for the meticulous copies made of her father’s work in an attempt to help keep his legacy alive.

From childhood, Jane found herself as her father`s studio assistant, grinding pigments and filling in secondary details of Gilbert’s work. Although her father refused to formally teach her, Jane learned his techniques and style by observing while he instructed other students. Stuart died in 1828, leaving his family nearly destitute after wasting their money on drink and gambling.

After her father passed away in 1828, Jane moved to study painting at the New York Academy of Fine Arts. Sixteen-year-old Jane soon established her own studio and took over the support of her family, remaining single her entire life. Despite his faults, she was her father`s staunchest admirer and did much to preserve his reputation, in addition to producing multiple copies of his most famous works.
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Also Shown:
Photograph taken of Jane Stuart dressed as one of the stepsisters from Cinderella at one of her annual Halloween parties, date unknown.

"It’s easy to forget that Jane was an average person, despite her talents and place in history. She dressed up for costume parties, where she ate, drank, and made merry like everyone else. Jane and her sisters, although not very wealthy, did what they could to celebrate this time of year in their youth. Jane is reported to have served apple cider and ginger cookies to whoever came to visit on the last night of October."
- The Redwood Library and Athenaeum in Rhode Island ...

That`s a wrap on Hearts for Art! Now it’s time to count up the love. Check out which works stole the most hearts this year! ❤️🎨 ...

Happy Valentine`s Day! Save these to send to your art-loving Valentine this year. 💌 ...

Thank you to everyone who joined us last Thursday for the opening reception of "Daydreams: A Pop-Up Exhibit by Whitney Pollock." It was truly a magical evening filled with love, art, and community made even more special by the beautiful music from @q_major318.

If you haven’t seen it yet, "Daydreams" will be on display through March 15th. We can’t wait for you to experience it. ✨
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🎨 @artbywhitney
📸 @clearlygrace ...

Happy Galentine`s Day! Tag your girlfriends in the comments below and tell them why you love them. 💕
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Shown:
"Blanche and Rosalie Sully" by Thomas Sully (1783-1872) Oil on canvas, 1842
"Dancers Resting (Young Girls)" by Marion Greenwood (1909 - 1970) Lithograph, c. 1940
"Le Lettre d`Amour" by J. Walker (19th century) Oil on canvas, date unknown
"Shadow Dance" by Martin Lewis (1881 - 1962) Drypoint and Sand Ground, 1930 ...