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Eastman Johnson Catalogue Raisonné
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© 1995 Christie’s Images Limited
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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
Hills no. 26.7.2
Dropping Off
Alternate titles: possibly "Dropping Off"; Asleep in His Rocker
1873
Oil on board
19 7/8 x 15 3/8 in. (50.5 x 39.1 cm)
Signed and dated lower right: E. Johnson 73
Provenance
Possibly R. H. Stoddard, by 1877
Private collection, by 1995
[Christie's, October 9, 1995, lot 47 (as Dropping Off)]
Present whereabouts unknown
Exhibitions
1873c Century Association
Century Association, New York, April 5, 1873, no. 5, [possibly, as Dropping Off].1877b NAD
National Academy of Design, New York, Annual Exhibition, April 3–June 2, 1877. (NAD 1877b); (NAD 1877c), no. 438, [possibly, as "Dropping Off", owner R. H. Stoddard].1907a Century Association
Century Association, New York, Memorial Exhibition of Eastman Johnson, February 9–13, 1907, [possibly, as Dropping Off or A Quiet Hour].References
New York Times 1877
"The Academy of Design: A Morning View of the Pictures." New York Times, April 13, 1877, p. 2 [possibly, as Dropping Off].NAD 1877b
National Academy of Design. Illustrated Catalogue of the 52nd Annual Exhibition. New York: National Academy of Design, 1877. Exhibition catalogue (1877b NAD), no. 438 [possibly, as Dropping Off].Kennedy Galleries 1920
Catalogue of an Exhibition of Charcoal Drawings by Eastman Johnson. New York: Kennedy Galleries, 1920. Exhibition catalogue (1920 Kennedy Galleries), p. 12, addendum “Paintings by Eastman Johnson" [possibly, as Dropping Off].Douglass 1999
Douglass, Julie M. "Lifetime Exhibition History." In Eastman Johnson: Painting America, by Teresa A. Carbone and Patricia Hills. Brooklyn, NY: Brooklyn Museum of Art, in association with Rizzoli International Publications, 1999. Exhibition catalogue, p. 266 [possibly].Hills Examination / Opinion
Examination date(s): 1995-10-09
Examination notes: An interior with many details. Wonderful siennas. Blue bookmark. Graphite lines—along right ear. Line along right eye, outlining nose. Along edge of hand. Lines along right chair arm. Brass whale oil lamp—nice yellow highlights. Long shelf on top—some bottles. Blue turquoise patch on the lower right. Two columns in book—bible. Light blue highlights on tongs.
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Record last updated August 25, 2021. Please note that the information on this and all pages is periodically reviewed and subject to change.
Citation: Hills, Patricia, and Abigael MacGibeny. "Dropping Off, 1873 (Hills no. 26.7.2)." Eastman Johnson Catalogue Raisonné. www.eastmanjohnson.org/catalogue/entry.php?id=439 (accessed on April 29, 2024).