''Miss Bentham'' is a 1906 oil painting by the American artist
George Bellows
George Wesley Bellows (August 12 or August 19, 1882 – January 8, 1925) was an American realism, American realist painting, painter, known for his bold depictions of urban life in New York City. He became, according to the Columbus Museum of Art ...
, depicting a full length, standing, nude woman, from the rear.
In 2015, it was acquired by the
Barber Institute of Fine Arts
The Barber Institute of Fine Arts is an art gallery and concert hall in Birmingham, England. It is situated in purpose-built premises on the campus of the University of Birmingham.
The listed building, Grade I listed Art Deco building was desi ...
in
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands, within the wider West Midlands (region), West Midlands region, in England. It is the Lis ...
, England.
History
Bellows made the painting, his first nude, in 1906 and never sold it.
It was still in his studio at the time of his death and was sold by his widow in 1985, to
Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol (;''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary''"Warhol" born Andrew Warhola Jr.; August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987) was an American visual artist, film director and producer. A leading figure in the pop art movement, Warhol ...
.
After Warhol's death in 1987, it was sold to an anonymous private collector who in turn sold it in 2015, through the dealer Collisart, to the Barber Institute.
They placed it on display shortly afterwards.
The painting is the Barber's first American painting, and only the second of Bellows' works to enter a public collection in the United Kingdom.
Hugh Carslake, Chairman of the
Henry Barber Trust, which purchased the picture on behalf of the Institute, said:
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Miss Bentham
1906 paintings
Paintings by George Bellows
Paintings in the Barber Institute of Fine Arts
Nude paintings of women
Oil on canvas paintings
Paintings of women