Dewing

Timothy C. Tyler · 01-30-2003, 10:22 PM

Does anyone else have issues with Dewing's drawing skills? What I don't understand is how he can obviously use photos yet still manage to get his drawing so off. Check out this lady's femurs.

Timothy C. Tyler · 01-30-2003, 10:25 PM

have suggested that maybe she had a small pony or large cat under her skirt but it really looks weird to me. If there was something under there it should have been defined.

Denise Hall · 01-31-2003, 12:33 AM

Hi Tim,

He's one of my faves - and the name is Thomas Wilmer Dewing. A large tryptich of his is at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D. C.

Cheers!

Jeff Fuchs · 01-31-2003, 09:30 AM

He was definitely a thigh man. I did a quick search and found Another example.

William Whitaker · 02-01-2003, 10:07 PM

Dewing is one of my favorite artists and I'm fortunate in having easy access to a fine early example of his work at my local university museum that's only three miles from my front door.

Dewing's drawing was indeed eccentric at times, but he more than made up for any "errors" by his fabulous handling, painterly technique, and the sheer beauty of his painting. Sometimes our personal built-in human failings actually enhance our work.

One can find many fine examples of his paintings on display in Washington D.C.

William Whitaker · 02-01-2003, 10:19 PM

I believe he did most of his figure painting from life. In late 19th and early 20th century New York, models were plentiful and inexpensive.

Here is an example of his work on display in the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.

William Whitaker · 02-01-2003, 10:21 PM

His wife, Maria Dewing was a fabulous painter too. Here is one of her paintings.

Cynthia Daniel · 02-01-2003, 10:55 PM

A side note: I've received an email several times from someone who owned a Dewing painted screen that was stolen. Thought I'd bring it up here in the unlikedly event anyone runs across it. Can you imagine having something like that stolen??

Denise Hall · 02-02-2003, 12:43 AM

The Lady With A Lute is one of my absolute favorite paintings by Dewing - because of the richness of color and the pose. It's such a strong background that appears to be dropping into a black hole and there she is - color perfect and shining luminously.

The colors in Dewings' paintings are usually tonal (since he was a tonalist, hehe) and this one is a little tiny bit different because of the background. My favorite ones by him are in the Freer of the ghost-like women floating around in fields. I love the textures also.

I didn't know one was stolen! Thanks Cynthia!

Marvin Mattelson · 02-02-2003, 11:07 AM

Painting is not about copying what's in front of you. The painter takes the information in front of him (her) and arranges it to best describe his (her) pictorial intentions.

Distortion used by such a great draftsman as Dewing is obviously intentional and due to personal choice and by no means by lack of skill.

Distortion created by lack of draftsmanship (bad drawing) is another story and obviously, looking at the sensitive observation in the heads he painted, Dewing was certainly not a bad drawer.

I always try to discern, when looking at something that seems askew in a painting by a great artist, why they did what they did. I also do this while looking at the brilliant passages as well.

To me, analysis is the best way to learn from the great masters.