Name/Title
Sharp, John (1911-1966) "Vase of Asters"Entry/Object ID
2025.900.FA18267Tags
Oil PaintingDescription
In a darkened room, light dramatically illuminates an arrangement of flowers and dried oak leaves in a simple white vase. The leaf shapes and Sharp’s brushwork create a flamelike appearance, albeit in a more muted color palette—even the bouquet’s shadow rises sinuously upward. Highlights upon the background imply that everything here is possessed of an aura.Collection
Mt. Morris TB Hospital FAP CollectionMade/Created
Artist
Sharp, John Oliver RobertDate made
Apr 13, 1937Condition
Overall Condition
GoodDate Examined
Aug 1, 2025Notes
3+ chips by vase on left/ leaf on right/leaf on left, 1 scratch on table top left side of vase, white paint splatter/stain on vaseRecommendations
requires cleaningProvenance
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' for supporting documents, and general historic and research information.
