Bert Gallery

Backside of Female Nude
Oil on Paper
24.5″ x 18″
signed bottom left
$350.

Woman Walking
Oil on Paper
24.5″ x 18.75″
signed bottom right
$200.

Three Nude Studies
Oil on Paper
24.5″ x 18″
signed lower middle
$250.

So, we all see these wonderful works of art by important artists like Childe Hassam (1859 – 1953).  This one recently from the Shannon Auction estimated to go for $15,000 – $25,000.

You find you are little short on cash, why not look to the notable Rhode Island artist S.R. Burleigh (1853- 1931) and for a mere $450 you get a beautifully rendered drawing with similar subject matter.  This drawing was in the collection of W. Alden Brown noted Providence Journal art critic and collector.

How can you resist!

Gordon Peers
Oil on Canvas 40” x 50”
Red Sails $10,000.

Available for viewing on request at Bert Gallery, 540 South Water Street, Providence, RI

How a “picture” is priced is very complex, mysterious and downright illogical. It is important to look at Rhode Island artists from different perspectives of the art world – recognition in museums, auctions, curators, critics, artists, collectors and galleries.

Gordon Peers (1909 – 1988) (link estate collection) was the Chairman of the Contemporary Art Department at Rhode Island School of Design.

An independent and disciplined painter, Gordon Peers acquired technical and theoretical art sophistication early in his career. Peers came under the influence of Frazier as a Rhode Island School of Design student, then went on to become Frazier’s colleague when he later returned to his Alma mater to teach. The two would remain good friends throughout their lives, but their aesthetic paths would differ. Early on Peers had a tremendous success with his tightly delineated still life compositions, similar in technique to that of John Frazier. These canvases saw national exhibition at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Corcoran Art Gallery, Carnegie Institute and the National Academy of Design in the 1940′s. But by the 1950′s the influence of Cezanne became evident in Peer’s work and the painter began a lifetime of experimentation, culminating in a body of thickly painted, brightly palette still lives and landscapes. These signature pieces, which differed significantly from his mentor’s work, were like stained glass canvases. During his lifetime, these later works never received the critical attention of early works. This was primarily due to the dominance of abstract expressionism in the art world, which left little room for the methodical and developed painting of Peers.

Today, a broad collector base collects Peers and he scores high in the gallery, critical and artist world.

Mushrooms
Charcoal and White Crayon on Paper
25″ x 19″
signed bottom right
$250.

Assorted Fruits and Vegetables
Charcoal on Paper
19″ x 25″
unsigned
$250.

How do you decide whether to produce a pastel work or a painting?

Pastels are more immediate and I can work on them when I have a shorter period of time. They are also easier to work with outside of my studio. When I have a longer block of time I like to take advantage of it for oil painting.