Miss Bentham
a nude white woman, against a black background
ArtistGeorge Bellows
Year1906
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions182 cm × 91 cm (72 in × 36 in)
LocationBarber Institute of Fine Arts, Birmingham
OwnerBarber Institute

Miss Bentham is a 1906 oil painting by the American artist George Bellows, depicting a full length, standing, nude woman, from the rear.[1] In 2015, it was acquired by the Barber Institute of Fine Arts in Birmingham, England.[1][2][3]

History

Bellows made the painting, his first nude, in 1906 and never sold it.[1] It was still in his studio at the time of his death and was sold by his widow in 1985, to Andy Warhol.[1] 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.[1] They placed it on display shortly afterwards.[1]

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.[1][2]

Hugh Carslake, Chairman of the Henry Barber Trust, which purchased the picture on behalf of the Institute, said:[3]

This is a very exciting acquisition for the Barber collection. Our founder, Lady Barber, stated that the quality of the works in our collection should be "of exceptional and outstanding merit" and emulate that of the works in the National Gallery and the Wallace Collection, so this is a particularly apposite addition.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Kennedy, Maev (3 February 2015). "Splendidly sturdy George Bellows nude is bought by Barber Institute". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  2. ^ a b "American Acquisition". Barber Institute of Fine Arts. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  3. ^ a b Brown, Graeme (3 February 2015). "Artwork owned by Andy Warhol becomes Barber Institute's first nude". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
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