Name/Title
Frank, Bena Virginia (1898-1991) "Lilies and Crystal"Entry/Object ID
2025.900.FA18157Tags
WatercolorDescription
A single lily stem displays two blossoms, with the promise of a third; their colors and shapes run extravagantly in all directions. Holding the lily is a crystal vase with a mesmerizing, flame-like pattern. Through its facets we see the lily’s green but also a range of colors drawn from the surrounding wall or atmospheric light.Collection
Mt. Morris TB Hospital FAP CollectionMade/Created
Artist
Frank, Bena VirginiaDate made
1935 - 1940Dimensions
Height
29-3/4 inWidth
12-1/2 inCondition
Overall Condition
Very GoodDate Examined
Jul 25, 2025Notes
2+ cracks on petals of lilies, 2 holes on back topProvenance
Provenance Detail
Created under the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Art Project (1930s–1940s), this collection of easel paintings was originally installed at the Mount Morris Tuberculosis Sanitorium in Livingston County, New York. Following the sanitorium’s closure in 1970, the artworks were abandoned and remained in storage until their rediscovery decades later. Now preserved and exhibited by the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts (GVCA), the collection is housed at the New Deal Museum in Mount Morris. Current efforts include digitization, high-resolution photography, and the creation of an online archive to ensure long-term public access and research availability.General Notes
Note Type
Cataloging NoteNote
See the entry titled 'New Deal Collection Documents' for supporting documents, and general historic and research information.
