$296
Winslow Homer (American, 1836-1910) Lot of Two Works: The Great Russian Ball At the Academy of Music, November 5, 1863, The Russian Ball-In the Supper Room, the former signed l. l., 1863. Woodcut engraving on paper, published in Harper's Weekly , November 21, 1863, The Great Russian Ball At the Academy of Music, November 5, 1863, 15 7/8 x 21 3/8, unframed, The Russian Ball-In the Supper Room, 16 1/2 x 11 1/4 in., in a contemporary wood frame. Condition: Tears, toning, creases. Note: These two works present a spark of controversy about an event occurring during the Civil War. In favoring the Union, Russia supported Lincoln's actions to preserve the nation and sent a fleet of service men to New York and San Francisco. On November 5, New Yorkers gave the Russians a ball at the Academy of Music. It was a very important affair attended by the leading members of society. Harper's Weekly ran pages of illustrations of the dancing ladies and their Russian partners on November 21, 1863. In an accompanying commentary an argument was presented discussing the expense and finery exhibited at the ball and whether that money would have been better spent supporting the troops on the battlefields. "The Great Russian Ball At the Academy of Music, November 5, 1863."- unframed, several edge tears, two into image one at u.l. about 1/2 in into image, one l.r. corner through signature, loss at u.r. corner about 3/4 in., center crease, hinged at the top; "The Russian Ball-In the Supper R Read more…
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2008-06-08
