Notable Sales
Tenements, 1912 (circa)
51.2 x 45.8 cm
This work is included in the David B. Milne Catalogue Raisonné of the Paintings compiled by David Milne Jr. and David P. Silcox, Vol. 1, p. 69, no. 104.9
Inscriptions
signed, ‘MILNE’ (lower left); signed, titled and dated by Douglas Duncan, ‘DAVID MILNE / TENEMENTS / (1912)’ (verso, upper left)Provenance
Private collection, Montreal
Douglas Duncan/Picture Loan
Milne's New York City oil paintings of 1912 and 1913 are exceedingly rare. Paintings such as Tenements, circa 1912, are historically significant. This is radical painting in 1912. Identifiable are influences such as the European "Fauves" (i.e. Matisse) and the Ashcan School of urban painters, the latter being among the dominant forces in American art of the day. Nevertheless, Milne's vision here is original and highly contemporary.
David Milne’s work from 1912–1913 marked a pivotal moment in his career, as he gained significant recognition and developed a style uniquely his own. Frequently praised in the press, Milne’s work was exhibited at the prestigious Montross Gallery, and the groundbreaking Armory Show of 1913.
