Description:

George Rodrigue (American/Louisiana, 1944-2013), "The Three Musketeers", 1995, acrylic on canvas, signed lower left, inscribed on side, artist stamp and inscribed on stretcher, 36 in. x 24 in., original frame. Provenance: Rodrigue Gallery, Carmel, CA, Aug. 26, 1998. Note: “The Three Musketeers” represents a turning point in George Rodrigue’s decades long journey with his Blue Dog series. Due to health concerns in the mid-1990s, Rodrigue was forced to substitute acrylic painting for his traditional oils. Rodrigue eventually came to favor the medium for its ability to dry quickly, produce vibrant colors and allow him to push the boundaries of his visual language. One of the first paintings produced in acrylic, the canvas offered here displays Rodrigue’s initial explorations in the new medium and a playful change in his treatment of the Blue Dog, and perhaps more importantly, its surroundings. The Blue Dog at the forefront morphs into the different character of Dudley the Bull Dog and wears a bear suit inspired by Rodrigue’s childhood stuffed toy. The lushness of the Louisiana landscape typically serving as the focus or backdrop of Rodrigue’s previous works transforms into bold shapes and primary colors. Visually, the scene has flattened, with the background now matching the iconic two-dimensionality of the Blue Dog. With paintings from this important time period, Rodrigue realized he had the ability to take the Blue Dog anywhere he desired on his canvases – a freedom that would profoundly affect the works that followed. Ref.: Rodrigue, Wendy. “Blue Dog Man, 1996-1999.” Musings of an Artist’s Wife. Dec. 10, 2009. www.legacyarttour.org. Accessed Mar. 5, 2022. Ill.: Freundlich, Lawrence S. George Rodrigue: A Cajun Artist. New York: Penguin Books, 1996, p. 215, pl. 212. Exh.: "Blue Dog: The Art of George Rodrigue", Dixon Gallery and Gardens Museum, Memphis, TN, July 29 - Oct. 14, 2007; "Rodrigue's Louisiana: Forty Years of Cajuns, Blue Dogs, and Beyond Katrina", The New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA, Mar. 1 - June 8, 2008.

  • Condition: If 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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April 9, 2022 11:00 AM CDT
New Orleans, LA, US

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $49 $5
$50 $99 $10
$100 $999 $25
$1,000 $4,999 $50
$5,000 $9,999 $100
$10,000 $49,999 $500
$50,000 $99,999 $1,000
$100,000 + $2,000