Description:

John Bernard Flannagan
New York, North Dakota, (1895 - 1942)
Two Horses, 1930
wood engraving
Pencil signed lower right, numbered 23/50 lower left.

Biography from The Columbus Museum of Art, Georgia: John Bernard Flannagan's childhood is often described as tragic. His father, a newspaperman, died when he was only five years old and the economic constrictions of raising three sons forced Flannagan's mother to place her children in an orphanage. At age seven Flannagan began to carve in wood with a pocketknife. Formal art instruction evolved through three years of classes at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

Flannagan served as a Merchant Marine before moving to New York where personal destitution forced him to sleep many nights in the city's subways. In 1922, he was rescued by the generosity of the artist Arthur B. Davies who allowed him to work on his farm and encouraged Flannagan's active schedule of painting and sculpting during this year of recuperation.

Flannagan received recognition with his first group exhibition at the age of twenty-eight at the Montross Gallery in New York. Soon after, he became a consistent exhibitor at the Weyhe Gallery in New York. This gallery would provide Flannagan with a stipend that was crucial to his financial needs for ten years of his career. (1)

Although Flannagan's stone sculptures may be more widely recognized today, his artistic career began with woodcarvings such as Mother Earth (ca. 1926). Flannagan employed the process of direct carving, giving him immediate contact with the source of wood or stone rather than relying on assistants to produce a cast from his model. The artist stated, "My aim is to produce sculpture with such ease, freedom and simplicity that it hardly seems carved but rather to have endured so always." (2)

Eventually he abandoned woodcarving, making Mother Earth a rare and distinguished example of his work. He migrated towards stone, believing the medium's inherent and literal strength produced additional challenges for his work. Flannagan developed consistent themes and styles in his sculpture. He explored nature as his primary subject matter, although he returned to the figure periodically.

Sources include:
1. Letters of John B. Flannagan, with an introduction by W.R. Valentiner (New York: Curt Valentiner, 1942). Dorothy C Miller, editor, The Sculpture of John B. Flannagan (New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 1942).

2. Quoted in Martha Candler Cheney's Modern Art in America (New York: Whittlesey House, 1939), 156.

Submitted by the staff of the Columbus Museum

  • Dimensions: 12 1/2"H x 9 1/2"W (sheet)
  • Medium: wood engraving

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

SHIPPING: Large or fragile items will require a third party shipper. Items that require third party or local pickup are indicated within the lot description. If we cannot ship your item, email [email protected] for a list of recommended shippers. Buyer is responsible for obtaining quotes and arrangement of third party shipping.
Successful bidders will receive an invoice following the auction that will include payment details. Please check your spam/junk folder if you do not receive an invoice.
After payment is made, your order will go to our shipping department if it does not require third party. Buyers will not automatically receive a shipping invoice. You will be sent a separate invoice for shipping once your initial invoice is paid and your items are packed and ready to ship. We guarantee that we will provide the highest standards in packing and handling available, in a time frame that allows attention to every detail to protect the items you have purchased.
It will ask you to verify your address before paying by credit card.
PICKUP: Items are subject to storage fees if they are not removed from premises within 10 business days. If items require third party shipping, arrangements and removal must be completed within 15 business days.

December 16, 2023 11:00 AM EST
Indianapolis, IN, US

Ripley Auctions

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $199 $20
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $4,999 $200
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $29,999 $1,000
$30,000 + $2,500