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Photo: Courtesy of Skinner, Inc.
Verso
Photo: Courtesy of Skinner, Inc.
Verso label
Photo: Courtesy of Skinner, Inc.
Verso label
Photo: Courtesy of Skinner, Inc.
Verso label
Photo: Courtesy of Skinner, Inc.
⊠26.7 Old Men Reading
In the mid-1870s, Johnson took up the subject of old men reading, sometimes seen outdoors but usually indoors. The large size of the books suggests that the men are reading the Bible. With their suggestion of time passing and the solace of faith, such works are a solemn contrast to the joie de vivre of works such as the Old Stage Coach, which depicts young children using the relics of the past as their playground. —PH
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Hills no. 26.7.7
Old Man Reading
Alternate titles: Man Reading a Book; Portrait of a Man
c.1875–81
Oil on paper board
15 1/4 x 21 3/8 in. (38.7 x 54.3 cm)
Initialed lower left: E.J.
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Markings
Inscribed on paper affixed to verso, upper left: Old Man Reading/Eastman Johnson [likely in Johnson's hand, but possibly not affixed by Johnson]
Labels
Inscribed on octagonal label, upper center: P 349/J; upper right: X-66. 15 1/4 x 21 1/2 /Port. of a Man/Eastman Johnson
Inscribed on verso, in pencil: P389/J
Inscribed directly on verso, in black crayon: 469/11
Label on verso of frame: D. J. Healy Shops [Although the label does not provide a location, D. J. Healy was a retailer in Detroit, Michigan]
Provenance
Private collection
Private collection, child of the above, by July 2014
Private collection, September 19, 2014 (by purchase)
Exhibitions
Frazier Gallery, New York, Eastman Johnson 1824–1906: Forerunner of Homer and Eakins, September–October 1937. (Hirschl 1937); (Frazier Gallery 1937a), no. 27, as
Man Reading a Book.
References
Frazier Gallery. Eastman Johnson: 1824–1906: Forerunner of Homer and Eakins. New York:
Frazier Gallery,
1937.
Exhibition catalogue (1937 Frazier Gallery), n.p., no. 27, as
Man Reading a Book.
Hills Examination/Opinion
Examination date(s): 2014-07-30
Related work
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Record last updated September 6, 2022. Please note that the information on this and all pages is periodically reviewed and subject to change.
Citation: Hills, Patricia, and Abigael MacGibeny. "Old Man Reading, c.1875–81 (Hills no. 26.7.7)." In Eastman Johnson Catalogue Raisonné. www.eastmanjohnson.org/catalogue/entry.php?id=1277 (accessed on May 2, 2025).
