William Glackens (American, 1870-1938) The Attack on the Blockhouse at El Caney

Description:

William Glackens (American, 1870-1938)

The Attack on the Blockhouse at El Caney or The Charge at El Caney
Signed and inscribed "W. Glackens/Caney" l.l.
Ink, wash, and whiting on paper, sight size 17 x 13 1/4 in. (43.2 x 33.7 cm),matted, framed.
Condition: Toning, creases to upper quadrant, small abrasions u.l., scattered stains, not examined out of frame.

Provenance: Collection of Victor D. Spark; through to the collection of Frederic and Jean Scharf, Massachusetts and Florida.

Literature: Patricia Hills, Turn-of-the-Century America: Paintings, Graphics, Photographs, 1890-1910, New York: Whitney Museum of American Art, 1977, illustrated p. 98, figure 111.

Exhibitions: The American Personality: The Artist-Illustrator of Life in the United States, 1860–1930, Amon Carter Museum of Art, Fort Worth, July 8–August 22, 1976, Frederick S. Wight Art Gallery, University of California, Los Angeles, October 12–December 12, 1976, cat. no. 110; Turn-of-the-Century America: Paintings, Graphics, Photographs, 1890-1910, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 22–October 2, 1977, The St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, Missouri, December 1, 1977–January 12, 1978, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington, February 2–March 12, 1978, The Oakland Museum, Oakland, California, April 4–May 28, 1978; William Glackens: Illustrator in New York, Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington, March 15–April 28, 1985, Penn State University Museum of Art, University Park, Jun 30–September 8, 1985, Hudson River Museum, Yonkers, New York, September 15–November 24, 1985.

N.B. Along with fellow artist-reporters, including Frederic Remington, William Glackens was hired by McClure's Magazine to cover the Spanish-American War. This work illustrates the attack of the 25th and 12th infantries on the Cuban village of El Caney and was published in the October 1898 edition of McClure's. The majority of Glackens's Spanish-American War drawings are in the collection of the Library of Congress.
Provenance: The collection of Frederic and Jean Sharf
Estimate $1,000-1,500

Framed dimensions are 24 1/2 x 21 in.

The sheet size is 18 1/4 x 13 3/4 in. It is mounted to a paperboard support which measures 21 1/2 x 16 7/8 in. The support is inscribed "Theo. Roosevelt" and 1th & 25th reg. Infantry" in pencil along the bottom.

The ink drawing shows mat burn along the top and upper side edges, with overall toning and an abrasion in the upper right corner probably from tape removal. There is a prominent horizontal crease about 2-1/2 inches down from the top and a lesser crease along the line of mat burn in the sky, and scattered abrasions and pin-picks to the sky.

The mount shows soiling, glue stains, and remnants of former mounting around the edges, plus a loss at its u.r. corner.


The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Condition requests can be obtained via email (lot inquiry button) or by telephone to the appropriate gallery location (Boston/617.350.5400 or Marlborough/508.970.3000). Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Skinner Inc. shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.

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