Description:

Edward Schoenberger (American/New Orleans, 1915-2007) , "The Musicians", 1948, oil on canvas, signed and dated lower left, 59 5/8 in. x 108 1/4 in., framed Provenance: Estate of the Artist; Collection of Allison Kendrick, The Carroll-Crawford House, New Orleans. Ill.: Costello, Sara Ruffin. About Decorating: The Remarkable Rooms of Richard Keith Langham. New York: Rizzoli, 2017, p. 223. Note: "Art is the creative use of the human imagination to interpret, understand and enjoy life." – Edward Schoenberger Edward Schoenberger, who was Paul Ninas’ studio assistant and friends with John McCrady, was a talented artist whose body of work has been frequently overlooked, even though he is often mentioned alongside his famous New Orleans contemporaries. He studied at the Arts and Crafts Club of New Orleans, the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Art, and the Art Students League of New York. No stranger to working on a grand scale, Schoenberger was commissioned by the WPA in 1940 to paint a mural for the New Orleans Public Library branch at 2940 Canal Street. The resulting work, entitled “The History of Printing,” was deemed at the time the largest mural in the United States on a single canvas at nine feet tall and forty-eight feet wide, and it depicted the development of the written word from ancient history to modern day. The monumental painting by Schoenberger on offer here was featured in pride of place in the famous Carroll-Crawford House in the Garden District. Those who have been fortunate enough to spend time within the manse’s walls will immediately recognize this modernist masterpiece from where it was prominently displayed in the grand stairwell. At an astounding 108 inches in length, this impressive canvas serves as a sensational debut for the artist on the secondary market. In it, Schoenberger executed his figures with confident brushstrokes and a bold palette, bringing to life the performing musicians. The color scheme and composition are reminiscent of Henri Matisse’s 1909 painting “Dance (I)” with hints of the figural elements of Pablo Picasso’s “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon.” One can also see Schoenberger’s close ties to the New Orleans modernists, such as the aforementioned Ninas. On a grand scale, the artist proves himself to be equal to the great artists of the day, with a distinctive viewpoint uniquely his own. Ref.: MacCash, Doug. “Mural Uncovered in Former Beauty School”. The Times-Picayune. Oct. 4, 2009. www.nola.com. Accessed Oct. 11, 2021. Paterson, Seale. “Nostalgia: Print in Paint.” myNewOrleans.com. May 1, 2019. www.myneworleans.com. Accessed Oct. 11, 2021. “Edward Theodore ‘Eddie’ Schoenberger Obituary”. The Times-Picayune. Oct. 31, 2007. www.nola.com. Accessed Oct. 11, 2021.

  • Condition: Condition is NOT stated in the description of the lot. The absence of a condition report does not indicate the lot is free of damage or condition issues. Available Condition Reports will appear as an additional image. Condition Reports and photographs may be requested on items until the Wednesday prior to the auction. Bid accordingly. All sales are final, no returns are accepted on the basis of condition.

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November 20, 2021 11:00 AM CST
New Orleans, LA, US

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$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $29,999 $1,000
$30,000 $49,999 $5,000
$50,000 $99,999 $10,000
$100,000 + $20,000