Posted 7 years ago
mikelv85
(1230 items)
Seems like every time I go to Salvation Army on half price Wednesdays I find a great piece of art. I spotted this framed drawing sitting in a plastic bin on the floor with a group of other pictures. I checked it closely with my magnifier...yes it was a real sketch. I turned it over and saw the frame shop name, but also another name I didn't recognize." Frank Brangwyn" written very faintly at the edge of the backing paper. I figured well I'll look it up when I get home. Wikipedia comes through again !... Sir Frank William Brangwyn RA RWS RBA (12 May 1867 – 11 June 1956) was an Anglo-Welsh artist, painter, water colourist, engraver, illustrator and progressive designer. Well this sure proves I don't know everything but I did recognize the quality in the work. A veritable "jack of all trades". You name it and Frank probably did it. It has been estimated that during his lifetime Brangwyn produced over 12,000 works. His mural commissions would cover over 22,000 sq ft (2,000 m2) of canvas, he painted over 1,000 oils, over 660 mixed media works (watercolours, gouache), over 500 etchings, about 400 wood engravings and woodcuts, 280 lithographs, 40 architectural and interior designs, 230 designs for items of furniture and 20 stained glass panels and windows. This is more than likely a study for one of his many works. He did several murals for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, San Francisco. Most were preserved and installed in other venues. He didn't always sign his work until he became well known. This sketch has his very indistinct "FB" monogram. A couple strokes for the "F" and what looks like a backward "3" for the "B". So that's the reason the frame shop wrote his full name on the back. I would never have known the artist or found the monogram without it. I really dislike the ugly walnut frame and it should be matted so it's not touching the glass. I'll find a nicer frame eventually but I won't tamper with it for now. Quite often there is more information to be found once the back is opened and the drawing removed. A nice little find if I do say so myself. -Mike-
NOTE: 3/30/2017
Well, I'm almost 100% sure this is a very good reproduction. Even under magnification it still looks like real pencil. There's a slim chance it's an engraving of some kind. Once I opened the frame I found the drawing paper was glued to a heavy piece of art board. The edges of the drawing almost look like it was photo copied. There's a pale grey line running down the sides. I tried to get some pencil residue on a Q-tip by rubbing it on the darker areas. Perfectly clean. A real drawing would show some residue even if it were fixed. Oh well not the worst 15 bucks I've spent including the new 5 dollar frame which looks great by the way. Live and learn ! -Mike-
If it is an original drawing then you have a major find. Well done you. The worker on the left relates to a figure in one of his linocuts.
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/stroud-auctions-ltd/catalogue-id-srstr10038/lot-99d47db2-b34f-43b9-90cc-a54600c7a534
Well done you, mate !!!
Good luck with it.
Thanks so much Kevin..It sure does look like my sketch at least composition wise. I'll have to see if I can find someone to take a look at it. Now I really want to remove it from the frame and check for further authenticity. Maybe I can take it to the Allen Art Museum in Oberlin near where I live and see if they can authenticate it for me. :)
I would.
What a great drawing and it looks original to my eye . I guess question who drew it ? did someone copy his work or did he draw it . Those are some rugged muscular men portrayed and love the image . Good luck on getting it authenticated and keep us updated .
There was a Little House on the Prairie episode where Charles and, if I remember correctly, Isaiah, both have to go to work for the railroad where they do this. It was a memorable episode, as they all were struggling due to drought, and, albeit young, I think the building that exploded (maybe it was in the episode following) was actually quite real with quite a real explosion. They also lost a friend in that episode, as they dynamite they were sticking in the holes they created to pave the way for the railroad, exploded prematurely.
Thanks for the"loves" and comments Thomas, Mani and SpiritBear. I hope it's real too. I bought a different frame so I'll probably open it up and see if anything is written on the picture itself this afternoon. Maybe another signature or even a title you never know. :)
The drawing is most beautiful !~
The fun and disappointment of research hey. It's such a great drawing, despite you thinking it's a print now. I thought it looked like a study for a painting when I first saw it.I guess my question would be why would someone make a print of a study, particularly from an artist this prolific? Hope you find out it's really real:)
Yes this was a hard pill to swallow Karen. It does look so real until I took it out of the frame to put it in the new one. I actually damaged it a bit. The art board backing was bowed so I tried to flex it a bit and the dried glue let go and the drawing came loose. I thought great I'll just take it all off completely. The bottom edge was stuck a bit and it started to tear no matter how careful I was. You can't see it with the new mat and it looks great in the new frame. So I'm kind of hoping I didn't mess up an original that's for sure. I don't think so at this point. There are a lot of forgeries out there that even fooled the experts. I agree it doesn't align with any of his known works except the wood cut. So maybe that was the point to create and undiscovered study for the piece.