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Topical/All : Fine Art

 

Author
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DouglasGPerry
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APS Member #196859

06 Mar 2016
06:42:19pm
Although I'd like to start a thread on fine art topicals (or thematics), I'm going begin with the reverse, namely a painting of a stamp rather than a stamp of a painting. I'm referring to The Old Violin, by William Harnett (1848-1892):

Image Not Found

Harnett was a realist painter of subjects that were often "unreal," in that they were of extremely realistic detail but the overall compositions made little sense. A case in point is The Old Violin. The instrument is hanging on a cabinet door; fine, but what are the sheet music and envelope doing there? Were they pasted there, and if so, why? However, let me set the artistic questions aside and get to the point of my posting. I draw your attention to the blue envelope:

Image Not Found

I am simply flabbergasted by the astounding detail with which Harnett painted this envelope, sent from Paris to New York. Here are my questions:

Which French stamp is it?

What is the meaning of the circled numeral 1, the boxed letter R, and the blue 35754?

(And by the way, I'm not posting this as a quiz; I really don't know and would appreciate your expert knowledge put to task.)

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DouglasGPerry
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APS Member #196859

06 Mar 2016
06:52:35pm
re: Fine Art

And of course, here is the reciprocal topical stamp (Scott #1386) of another, similar Harnett painting:

Image Not Found

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DouglasGPerry
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APS Member #196859

06 Mar 2016
08:39:01pm
re: Fine Art

Thank you, Chris. That pretty much nails it.

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sdsimon

06 Mar 2016
09:43:25pm
re: Fine Art

I wonder if the address on the envelope was really his address?

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sheepshanks
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06 Mar 2016
10:07:56pm
re: Fine Art

Well he was certainly in NY when he died or at least on burial, guess he is still there a few feet deep. Could not find a census copy for him but he would probably be on the 1890/1 census.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=31173314&ref=acom

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DouglasGPerry
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APS Member #196859

06 Mar 2016
10:40:54pm
re: Fine Art

My guess is that it is indeed his address. This location is in Union Square, only a few blocks from Cooper Union (then Cooper Institute) where he studied for a time. Also, he studied in Europe and undoubtedly received correspondence from Paris.

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"All hobbies are absurd to those on the outside, and a joy to those within."
DouglasGPerry
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APS Member #196859

06 Mar 2016
10:54:38pm
re: Fine Art

Wouldn't it be a hoot if this cover still existed?

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"All hobbies are absurd to those on the outside, and a joy to those within."
        

 

Author/Postings
Members Picture
DouglasGPerry

APS Member #196859
06 Mar 2016
06:42:19pm

Although I'd like to start a thread on fine art topicals (or thematics), I'm going begin with the reverse, namely a painting of a stamp rather than a stamp of a painting. I'm referring to The Old Violin, by William Harnett (1848-1892):

Image Not Found

Harnett was a realist painter of subjects that were often "unreal," in that they were of extremely realistic detail but the overall compositions made little sense. A case in point is The Old Violin. The instrument is hanging on a cabinet door; fine, but what are the sheet music and envelope doing there? Were they pasted there, and if so, why? However, let me set the artistic questions aside and get to the point of my posting. I draw your attention to the blue envelope:

Image Not Found

I am simply flabbergasted by the astounding detail with which Harnett painted this envelope, sent from Paris to New York. Here are my questions:

Which French stamp is it?

What is the meaning of the circled numeral 1, the boxed letter R, and the blue 35754?

(And by the way, I'm not posting this as a quiz; I really don't know and would appreciate your expert knowledge put to task.)

Like 
4 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.

"All hobbies are absurd to those on the outside, and a joy to those within."
Members Picture
DouglasGPerry

APS Member #196859
06 Mar 2016
06:52:35pm

re: Fine Art

And of course, here is the reciprocal topical stamp (Scott #1386) of another, similar Harnett painting:

Image Not Found

Like 
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.

"All hobbies are absurd to those on the outside, and a joy to those within."
Members Picture
DouglasGPerry

APS Member #196859
06 Mar 2016
08:39:01pm

re: Fine Art

Thank you, Chris. That pretty much nails it.

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"All hobbies are absurd to those on the outside, and a joy to those within."
sdsimon

06 Mar 2016
09:43:25pm

re: Fine Art

I wonder if the address on the envelope was really his address?

Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
Members Picture
sheepshanks

06 Mar 2016
10:07:56pm

re: Fine Art

Well he was certainly in NY when he died or at least on burial, guess he is still there a few feet deep. Could not find a census copy for him but he would probably be on the 1890/1 census.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=31173314&ref=acom

Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
Members Picture
DouglasGPerry

APS Member #196859
06 Mar 2016
10:40:54pm

re: Fine Art

My guess is that it is indeed his address. This location is in Union Square, only a few blocks from Cooper Union (then Cooper Institute) where he studied for a time. Also, he studied in Europe and undoubtedly received correspondence from Paris.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"All hobbies are absurd to those on the outside, and a joy to those within."
Members Picture
DouglasGPerry

APS Member #196859
06 Mar 2016
10:54:38pm

re: Fine Art

Wouldn't it be a hoot if this cover still existed?

Like
Login to Like
this post

"All hobbies are absurd to those on the outside, and a joy to those within."
        

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