"Crucifixion" by Seymour E. Bottex - c. 1965 - Naive Haitian Art

Description: Crucifixion by Seymour E. Bottex Circa 1965 20 inches x 24 inches, Oil on Masonite, Framed. Condition: There is slight bump to the top-right corner of the masonite from before the painting was framed, otherwise the painting is flawless, as bright as the day it was completed. In Bottex's rendition of the aftermath of Christ's crucifixion, a Haitian Ra-Ra passes below Jesus on the cross. (Ra-Ra is a traditional Easter-time procession/celebration in Haiti.) The artist's bright pallet, and the joyous enthusiasm of the RaRa participants, give a decidedly Haitian spin on what is usually depicted as a somber event. We hang this painting relatively high, with the RaRa at eye level. This draws a viewer's first attention to the procession, and emphasizes that the crucifixion towers above it. Provenance: James S. Huffman Collection James S. Huffman had a distinguished 35 year career in the United States Foreign Service. A serious collector of primitive and naive art, he sought pieces local to the regions where he served. From 1963-1965, Huffman was posted to the Dominican Republic. From there, he often went to Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, where he purchased more than 50 paintings, many of them from Le Centre d'Art and Galerie Issa. Seymour Etienne Bottex was born on Christmas Eve, 1922 in Port Margot in the north of Haiti. His grandfather was an important General in the Haitian Army. After finishing secondary school he worked for some years as a photographer. Around 1955, encouraged by his older brother, Jean-Baptiste, another well known artist, he began to do drawings in color. In 1961 he joined the Centre d'Art, and in 1969 he began to paint in the atelier of the Galerie Issa. Seymour Bottex used bright colors and strong lines to depict biblical, historical and local scenes, all painted with a sense of humor. His distinctive use of curved lines gives a tender quality to his otherwise ordinary characters in everyday scenes. The clarity of line, the rich primary colors, and the draftsman-like skill in excecution mark Seymour Bottex as one of the most sought-after Haitian primitive painters. Living in New Jersey, USA in his later years, Seymour Etienne Bottex passed away at the age of 93 on May 16, 2016. [Biographic notes from Galerie Macondo.] Publications: [na]. The Naive Tradition: Haiti. Milwaukee Art Center, 1974. Knight, Gregory G. Under the Spell: The Art of Haiti. 1983. Nadal-Gardere, Marie-Jose and Gerald Bloncourt. La Peinture Haitienne. 1986. Rodman, Selden. The Miracle of Haitian Art. New York, 1974. iArtX - The Internet Art Exchange is proud to offer a curated selection of Haitian Art, along with Naive Art from other countries. You won't find schlocky tourist art in our listings. We have been collecting art for over forty years, and every painting we offer currently hangs in our home. Each was deliberately chosen, with a primary consideration being a desire to live with the piece, to revisit and reconsider it almost every day. See our website for more information. Unfortunately, wall space in our home is limited. That's where selling from our collection comes in: While each sale forces us to part with a painting we love, it also offers the opportunity to adopt another. We're happy to answer questions and provide additional images. We pack well and ship promptly upon clearance of payment. Satisfaction guaranteed with returns accepted for any reason. Avoid fakes! Sadly, they're out there. But forearmed with a bit of knowledge, you should be able to recognize them: Study other works by the artist you're interested in. (We provide links in our listings to help you do that.) Paintings by other hands will lack the artist's typical precision and detail. If they aren't provided in the listing, ask for high-quality images that show the detail sharply. Don't buy the signature; buy the content. A signature is easy to fake; a good painting isn't. Also, beware of so-called early works (or any other works) that don't look like other pieces by the artist. Beware of dealers who don't respond civilly to questions about provenance and authenticity, or who don't accept returns. Knowledge is power!

Price: 2750 USD

Location: Novato, California

End Time: 2024-10-06T05:18:47.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD