William McGregor Paxton
 

Beware! Heed my warnings, please. Don

Portrait example
 

I chose to display this portrait to illustrate, that even in spite of the poor quality and color in this reproduction, how the sensitive handling of his subject allows her spirit to magnificently shine through.

Paxton Book
 

There is one book published on his work entitled "William McGregor Paxton" by Ellen W. Lee. It was published in conjunction with a show of his work and is relatively hard, yet not impossible, to find. I believe it's listed on the SOG book list.

Here's the Paxton page at Art Renewal Center.

Paxton
 

Marvin,

As I scrolled down and the face in the portrait was revealed, all I could say was, Oh My God! It is truly breathtaking. Her eyes, her everything, she is just striking. I can't imagine seeing it in person. I can imagine how, upon gazing at this portrait, I would be locked to the floor and unable to move for quite some time. What a gifted artist he was.

I must admit I have tried to find out more about him on the internet and did not find much there.

Thanks for posting these images and your thoughts.

Paxton
 

Alicia,

..." I second that emotion"..

Marvin,

I can't seem to locate this book either. Does it have any reference to his technique, or is it purely biographical? The two examples you posted are indeed jawdroppers, it's just not fair!

Paxton prints
 

Any references to his technique are incidental. I know that he worked wet into wet and built up his paintings in layers. The reproductions in the book are overall pretty good. I have been purchasing old Sotheby and Christies American Art auction catalogues at used bookstores and flea markets if they contain Paxton reproductions. I

Please see http://www.portraitartist.com/bostonschool.htm for Ellen Lee's book.

Auction catalogs
 

Marvin,

You don't have to shop auctions and old book fairs to find auction catalogs, unless of course you want to. I order Christie's and Sotheby's catalogs from www.catalogkid.com. I have gotten many beautiful catalogs from them at a very reasonable price and in pristine condition.

More bang for the buck
 

Thanks for the tip. I can purchase catalogs for between $5.00 and $15.00 at my venues. I can also preview the catalogs to see if they have plates worthy for purchase. I cut apart the catalogs, save the pages that inspire me and file them in separate portfolios for each artist. This and the ability to actually see the original paintings when they preview prior to the auction sale makes New York a very appealing place. Many of the paintings have been in private collections and have not been seen publicly for decades or more. Having access to this work is my greatest teacher.

Question
 

I think I've liked everything I've ever seen by Paxton. I'm often surprised that the originals are smaller than I would have thought from the image - like Gerome in that.

I have long been curious about some vanishing points in "The Necklace." If the chest on the right is correct and I think it matches most things in the room, then how do I understand the angle of the top of the screen (far right end)nearest to the figures? Also, the angles of the top of the glass case on (top of the chest) seem wrong, too.

I still like the work, but everytime I look at the piece those things catch my attention, they feel incorrect. Does anyone agree or have an answer to explain this?

Disagree!!
 

The line of perspective of the top edge of the screen on the viewer' s right has a vanishing point which would lie on the horizon line far to the viewer's left, out of the frame of the picture. In perspective all objects perpendicular to the horizon line will have vanishing points located on the horizon line. However, unless all these objects are lined up parallel to each other those vanishing points will by necessity have to move to either the left or to the right. If the object is tilted and no longer perpendicular to the horizon line the vanishing points will no longer reside on the horizon line. The screen is coming out at the viewer on the right side. The glass case is turned slightly more towards the viewer than the desk. Bottom line, even if there were perspective flaws, wouldn

Full, mostly
 

Yep, Marvin the cup is very full. It's a high standard I hold Sargent, Paxton and a few others to.

I see the horizon line about at the neck of the seated woman. I still am bothered by the two areas mentioned. If I knew how to work the fancy lines over image thing some people can do I'd draw out what I mean. The small part on the left on the chest (left of the corner-on the top lip) seems not to answer to the same vanishing points as the draws on the face.

I, too, have long enjoyed this work and still do. That's part of why I'm taunted by the lines feeling and "appearing" wrong. The satin, the composition, the drawing , the color, etc. is right on!

A new Paxton
 

I just discovered this Paxton on line at the Greenwich Gallery. It is called "The Slipper" and I've never seen it before. It is a nude, and those who are not offended by the naked human body can see it at this url:

http://www.greenwichgallery.com/20th.../paxtthes.html

This painting goes for about $90,000.00, if anyone's interested and I'm sure this link will become inactive after the painting is sold.

Cool
 

That is a nice one. I had never seen it either. Nice edges.

Edge of night
 

Paxton's paintings are a veritable treatise on edges.

Nudes?
 

Marvin, he treated the nudes very softly, at least the ones I remember. Is that so or are those all from a certain period of his life. I recall a modest one that's in Boston I think (a lady sitting on bed).