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ID #SA1138480
FOR SALE
£880
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20th Century Impressionist Painting by Emil John Hess Circa 1940
School House Antiques
for sale €1,030     $1,118
£880
School House Antiques

School House Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2021
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20th Century Impressionist Painting by Emil John Hess Circa 1940

1920 - 1940
Description

This vibrant watercolor on canvas by acclaimed American artist Emil John Hess immerses viewers in the lively atmosphere of a bustling circus scene. Painted in Hess’s signature impressionistic style, the painting bursts with energy through its loose brushstrokes, expansive colour washes, and dynamic, sketch-like lines. The artwork vividly captures the excitement and spectacle of the circus.

Renowned for his depictions of circus life and working class, industrial landscapes, Hess masterfully blends these themes to evoke a sense of nostalgia in his paintings .

In this particular particular painting the central ring teems with activity—acrobats soar overhead, performers engage with animals, and a captivated audience fills the tiers, all portrayed with a fluid quality that emphasises motion and emotion.

This rare piece is elegantly presented in an ornate wooden frame enhancing its visual impact and historical charm.

Dimensions:

Framed: 49 cm Height x 34 cm Width x 3 cm Depth

Unframed: 43 cm Height x 28 cm Width

Birth place: Willock, PA

Profession: Painter, sculptor

Studied: Duquesne Univ., 1938-39; Art Inst. Pittsburgh, 1946-49; Brooklyn Mus. Art Sch., 1950-51; NY Univ., 1959.

Exhibited: NAD, 1950; solos: Betty Parsons Gal., 1951, 1952, 1968 & 1970s; MMA, 1953; Stable Gal., NYC, 1953 & 1955; MoMA Traveling Exhibs., 1959

Member: ASL (life mem.); AFA; Int. Platform Assn.

Work: Smithsonian Inst.; Penn. State Mus., Harrisburg, PA; Earle Ludgins College, Chicago; Eliah Root College, NY; Phillip Johnson Coll., NY.

Comments: Preferred media: watercolour , oils, metal.

Sources: WW73; New Means for Moderns," Life (1954); Emily Genauer, "Beatnik Sculptor in Big Museum Show," New York Herald Tribune (1959); "Sounds of Hess Sculpture," WBAI (New York, 1970)"

Declaration

School House Antiques has dated this Impressionist Circus Watercolour Painting to the 1940s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1138480
Dealers Notes

More pictures available upon request. Worldwide delivery available, please enquire for an estimate.

Description
This vibrant watercolor on canvas by acclaimed American artist Emil John Hess immerses viewers in the lively atmosphere of a bustling circus scene.
“
Painted in Hess’s signature impressionistic style, the painting bursts with energy through its loose brushstrokes, expansive colour washes, and dynamic, sketch-like lines.
School House Antiques

The artwork vividly captures the excitement and spectacle of the circus.

fig 1. A framed vertical watercolour painting depicting a busy circus arena with performing trapeze artists, horses, and spectators.
fig 1. 20th Century Impressionist Painting by Emil John Hess Circa 1940

Renowned for his depictions of circus life and working class, industrial landscapes, Hess masterfully blends these themes to evoke a sense of nostalgia in his paintings .

In this particular particular painting the central ring teems with activity—acrobats soar overhead, performers engage with animals, and a captivated audience fills the tiers, all portrayed with a fluid quality that emphasises motion and emotion.

fig 2. A framed vertical watercolour painting depicting a busy circus arena with performing trapeze artists, horses, and spectators.
fig 2. 20th Century Impressionist Painting by Emil John Hess Circa 1940

This rare piece is elegantly presented in an ornate wooden frame enhancing its visual impact and historical charm.

Dimensions:

Framed: 49 cm Height x 34 cm Width x 3 cm Depth

Unframed: 43 cm Height x 28 cm Width

fig 3. A framed vertical watercolour painting depicting a busy circus arena with performing trapeze artists, horses, and spectators.
fig 3. 20th Century Impressionist Painting by Emil John Hess Circa 1940

Birth place: Willock, PA

Profession: Painter, sculptor

Studied: Duquesne Univ., 1938-39; Art Inst. Pittsburgh, 1946-49; Brooklyn Mus. Art Sch., 1950-51; NY Univ., 1959.

Exhibited: NAD, 1950; solos: Betty Parsons Gal., 1951, 1952, 1968 & 1970s; MMA, 1953; Stable Gal., NYC, 1953 & 1955; MoMA Traveling Exhibs., 1959

fig 4. A framed vertical watercolour painting depicting a busy circus arena with performing trapeze artists, horses, and spectators.
fig 4. 20th Century Impressionist Painting by Emil John Hess Circa 1940

Member: ASL (life mem.); AFA; Int. Platform Assn.

Work: Smithsonian Inst.; Penn. State Mus., Harrisburg, PA; Earle Ludgins College, Chicago; Eliah Root College, NY; Phillip Johnson Coll., NY.

Comments: Preferred media: watercolour , oils, metal.

Sources: WW73; New Means for Moderns," Life (1954); Emily Genauer, "Beatnik Sculptor in Big Museum Show," New York Herald Tribune (1959); "Sounds of Hess Sculpture," WBAI (New York, 1970)"

Date of Manufacture

School House Antiques has dated this Impressionist Circus Watercolour Painting to the 1940s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1138480
School House Antiques
School House Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2021
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the School House Antiques Profile Page

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A framed vertical watercolour painting depicting a busy circus arena with performing trapeze artists, horses, and spectators.
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Archive I A framed vertical watercolour painting depicting a busy circus arena with performing trapeze artists, horses, and spectators.

20th Century Impressionist Painting by Emil John Hess Circa 1940

Archive II A framed vertical watercolour painting depicting a busy circus arena with performing trapeze artists, horses, and spectators. View II
Archive III A framed vertical watercolour painting depicting a busy circus arena with performing trapeze artists, horses, and spectators. View III
Archive IV A framed vertical watercolour painting depicting a busy circus arena with performing trapeze artists, horses, and spectators. View IV
Archive V A framed vertical watercolour painting depicting a busy circus arena with performing trapeze artists, horses, and spectators. View V
Enlarged Archival View
School House Antiques

School House Antiques
Telephone 07498 776 944
Location
Hertfordshire
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/schoolhouseantiques
Verified Since Oct 2021
Items For Sale 62
Items Sold 169
School House Antiques
School House Antiques
Verified Since Oct 2021
View Dealer Info
Location: Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/schoolhouseantiques
Verified
Oct 2021
For Sale
62
Sold
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A framed vertical watercolour painting depicting a busy circus arena with performing trapeze artists, horses, and spectators.
20th Century Impressionist Painting by Emil John Hess Circa 1940
Ref: SA1138480
A framed vertical watercolour painting depicting a busy circus arena with performing trapeze artists, horses, and spectators.
Detail View 1
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FAQs

Twentieth-century impressionist scene paintings focus on capturing movement, light, and atmosphere through fluid brushwork and expressive colour palettes. Artists depicted narrative and public events, such as theatrical or circus performances, emphasizing impression over realistic detail.

Mid-century watercolour works were typically executed on heavy cotton rag paper using water-soluble pigments. They were commonly mounted behind glass within wooden frames featuring gilt or painted slips to protect the paper surface from environmental exposure.

Authentic mid-century paintings often feature signature signatures, age-appropriate paper tone or canvas aging, and characteristic period framing techniques. Examining the reverse for framer labels, gallery stamps, or natural oxidisation of materials aids in verification.

A narrative circus painting acts as a focal point when hung above a wooden sideboard, desk, or within a gallery wall arrangement. Pairing the piece with contemporary minimalist furniture balances the vibrant composition and intricate details of the scene.

Watercolour paintings on paper should be kept out of direct sunlight to prevent fading of pigments and degradation of the paper. Display the artwork in a climate-controlled environment with stable humidity levels, and ensure UV-protective glass is used if re-framing.
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