Here we have a large graphite drawing of a standing dapper man with a walking cane and cigarette, executed by legendary Civil War era artist Eastman Johnson (1824 - 1906). When it comes to the old style of the new times, the study in this artwork has it all. The dapper outfit, the bowler hat, the curling mustache, the walking cane and the epic cigarette in his hand. For someone as esteemed as Eastman Johnson, the sight holds a special place in my old soul. A stunning piece of art.
The rare Johnson drawing was found in an old antique dealer's estate that was in storage for decades. I was told she was in business in the early part of the 1900s.
The large graphite drawing is signed "E.J." near the gentleman's fine shoes. I'm confident it was executed in the later half of the 19th century. My guess is the drawing is from the 1860s.
Here is the wikipedia page for
Eastman Johnson. Check out the charcoal drawing of the
Ojibwe woman halfway down the page, and the signed initials.
Here's the biography from the Heritage Auctions website:
One of the most successful artists of the Civil War era, Maine native Eastman Johnson specialized in genre paintings of motley subjects, including rural children at play, Union soldiers at the front and African-American families in the South, Nantucket cranberry pickers, and women in intimate interiors. As the son of Maine's Secretary of State, Johnson traveled often as a youth and was able to work in a lithography shop in Boston before his family moved to Washington, D.C., where he drew crayon portraits of politicians and diplomats at the U.S. Capitol. To complete his professional training, Johnson studied in Dusseldorf, Rome, Paris, and The Hague, ultimately settling in New York City and becoming a member of the National Academy of Design.
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The framed Eastman artwork measures 25" tall and 15" wide. The exposed drawing measures 20" tall and 12 1/2" wide. The top two corners have diagonal trims. The drawing is attached to backing paper with two small pieces of tape at the top of the drawing (see unframed pic). There is a few small foxing spots along the right side, and a few more near the gent's head. The frame is solid but has some wear. The bottom backing (behind the first backing) has a slight discoloration at the bottom. Please see all pics as they are part of the description.
I ship FedEx to street addresses in the continental USA only (no PO boxes). Free shipping on the rare 19th century artwork.
Full disclosure: I'm fine is this never sells. Treasures aren't falling from trees. I love everything about it.
