Painting- Odalisque

Entry/Object ID

1985.FB.111

Description

Oil painting on canvas depicts a nude recumbent woman with brown and red hair, curtains and palm trees in the background. She leans her head on her bent left arm. Her head is to the object left side of picture and she faces front. She is on a white sheet draped over an orange lounge. Two red pumps sit under the lounge. This is framed by two swags of drapes. Printed white signature in upper object right corner: FREDERIC CLAY BARTLETT//. Varnished. In gilt and tan wooden and plaster frame with gilt and black scroll motifs in a central bands-original frame. Artist: FCB. Title: Odalesque. before 1946. This painting was exhibited at the National Arts Club 15 Gramercy Park, New York City in 1946. An odalisque is a female slave, chambermaid, female attendant or concubine in a harem, particularity the court ladies in the household of the Ottoman sultan. There is a long artistic tradition of this type of image depicting scantily clad dark skinned women amongst exotic trappings. On tan paper sticker with blue printing adhering to back of canvas: ATTACH TO BACK OF EXHIBIT/THE NATIONAL ARTS CLUB/15 GRAMERCY PARK NEW YORK/SUMMER EXHIBITION/JUNE 26 TO SEPT. 27, 1946/NAME FREDERIC CLAY BARTLETT/ADDRESS "WHITE HALL" BEVERLY, MASS./TITLE ODALESQUE/PRICE $75.00//. Collected at artist's studio in Beverly, Mass. Rumor is that Frederic dated artist Margaret Sergeant of Singer Sergeant bloodline at one time, in between wives. She supposedly visited Bonnet House and brought her friend who she may have been having a relationship with as well. This is a painting of her by Frederic.

Artwork Details

Medium

Oil paint, Canvas, Oil on Canvas

Made/Created

Artist

Bartlett, Frederic Clay

Notes

Date: 1930-1946 Technique: Painting

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Notes

Maker's Mark: sticker on back. Signed upper left "Frederic Clay Bartlett"

Dimensions

Height

10-1/8 in

Width

13 in

Depth

1/4 in

Name/Title

Painting- Odalisque