GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Although the depiction of African American men as musicians had a long and clichéd history in American art, William Henry Huddle’s careful draftsmanship and sensitive portrayal of his elderly sitter lifts the portrait above the 19th-century stereotype of the minstrel. Huddle studied in New York at the National Academy of Design and the Art Students League from 1874 to 1876. He then settled permanently in Austin, Texas, where he soon received a commission from the legislature for the portraits of the state’s former presidents and governors.
Excerpt from
William Keyse Rudolph, DMA label text, 2005.
NOTES
c. 1889
Object File reviewed
"For years the artist had searched for such a model. One day on Sixth St., Austin, Texas, he saw Mose and asked him to pose for him. Mose consented but when he was asked to hold a violin for the portrait he refused, saying it was the instrument of the devil. The artist told him that angels in heaven played them, also the lyre, and harp, and Mose said 'Boss, give me that fiddle.'" On paper found in Object File.
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Place of origin: Austin (Texas/United States): TGN: 7013346
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From 1987: Dallas Museum of Art, The Karl and Esther Hobitzelle Collection, gift of the Hobitzelle Foundation
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General Description
Although the depiction of African American men as musicians had a long and clichéd history in American art, William Henry Huddle’s careful draftsmanship and sensitive portrayal of his elderly sitter lifts the portrait above the 19th-century stereotype of the minstrel. Huddle studied in New York at the National Academy of Design and the Art Students League from 1874 to 1876. He then settled permanently in Austin, Texas, where he soon received a commission from the legislature for the portraits of the state’s former presidents and governors.
Excerpt from
William Keyse Rudolph, DMA label text, 2005.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
c. 1889
Object File reviewed
"For years the artist had searched for such a model. One day on Sixth St., Austin, Texas, he saw Mose and asked him to pose for him. Mose consented but when he was asked to hold a violin for the portrait he refused, saying it was the instrument of the devil. The artist told him that angels in heaven played them, also the lyre, and harp, and Mose said 'Boss, give me that fiddle.'" On paper found in Object File.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Place of origin: Austin (Texas/United States): TGN: 7013346
Process/materials
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
From 1987: Dallas Museum of Art, The Karl and Esther Hobitzelle Collection, gift of the Hobitzelle Foundation
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1987.43
source file
object_notes_2_c-0076.xml.nores