Name/Title
Alger, John Herbert (1879-1967) "Chrysanthemums"Entry/Object ID
2025.900.FA18104Tags
Oil Painting, Still LifeDescription
Alger paints a beautiful bouquet of pink, red and yellow chrysanthemums in a yellow vase. What strikes you immediately is the balance of his painting, the chrysanthemums rising symmetrically to fill the frame, their leaves drooping down to further balance the frame and fill negative space. The colors, too, are congruous: vibrant reds and fuchsias of the chrysanthemums are complemented by softer yellows of their discs and the vase; lush greens are contrasted by the dry brown of dying leaves. Alger's brushwork is visible enough to be striking, but he blends enough that the strokes are soft on the eye.Collection
Mt. Morris TB Hospital FAP CollectionMade/Created
Artist
Alger, John HerbertDate made
1935Dimensions
Height
19-1/2 inWidth
16 inCondition
Overall Condition
Very GoodDate Examined
Jul 19, 2025Notes
staining/purposeful? covered entirelyProvenance
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.
