California Fruit

Delman--California Fruit.jpg
DelmanBen - California Fruit.JPG

Dublin Core

Title

Description

A rectangular table is the platform for dried flowers and branches in an ornamental vase, a clear pedestal fruit bowl filled with pears, grapes and nectarines, as well as a small serving platter holding the same fruit. The vase and table are adorned with cool-colored shapes, without pattern. A blue fabric with pronounced brushstrokes is draped diagonally across the table from the wall behind it. A framed painting in the background juxtaposes the dried contents of the vase with a depiction of green tree leaves.

About the Artist: Born Benzion Elias Delman in Jerusalem, Palestine, this NDG artist studied at the Bazelel Academy of Arts and Design and then in Paris before immigrating to New York in 1915. As of 1918 he was a staff artist for the Jewish Daily News. Delman became a citizen in 1923, and eventually moved to Chicago in 1942. His works were featured in exhibits sponsored by the National Academy of Design (1932), the New York City WPA—“Market Scenes” at the USDA in 1941, along with NDG artists Fred Adler and Herman Copen—and by the Art Institute of Chicago (1947). Delman is a study in perseverence: during the late 1940s he was working in the notions department at Mandel Brothers’ department store in Chicago, and did most of his painting (and etching) at night. His “Figure of an Old Man” at the gates of Jerusalem was shown at a 1949 exhibition sponsored by the store. The Mandels had “expected a few workers to turn up with stamp and shell collections and they were aware that a couple of salesmen liked to paint still lifes—but they weren’t prepared for the scores of employees who volunteered to exhibit” (Chicago Tribune 12 Jan. 1950: 26). 3 more images at FAP.

Creator

Delman, Ben E., 1898-1973

Publisher

Date

Contributor

Source

Format

Type

Identifier

Still Image Item Type Metadata

Original Format

Oil painting

Physical Dimensions

29.5 x 24.5 in.
Condition: cracked paint

Geolocation