Hovsep Pushman (American 1877-1966) Still Life with Chinese Statuette

Hovsep Pushman (American, 1877-1966) Still Life with Chinese Statuette Signed "Pushman" l. r. Oil on wood panel, 23 15/16 x 18 in. (60.8 x 45.7 cm) framed. Condition: Paint loss from frame abrasion l.l. Provenance: Purchased from Grand Central Art Galleries, New York, c. 1948, then by descent through the family. N.B. Of Armenian descent, Hovsep Pushman immigrated to the United States with his parents when he was in his late teens, settling in Chicago. The family were highly intellectual antiquarian collectors and dealers in Oriental rugs, who encouraged Hovsep in his artistic studies. Pushman pursued his education in China and in Paris, where he won his first bronze medal at the Paris Salon in 1914. By 1920, Pushman turned to painting still lifes almost exclusively, often basing his spiritual compositions around the rare antiquities, statuettes, ancient pottery and glass that his family had collected. His compositions often included wilted roses and other dried flowers. Pushman preferred to work on wood or Masonite, although he understood that potential purchasers believed that canvas made a more desirable support. Hence, Pushman would occasionally back his paintings with a layer of canvas fabric and add a stretcher-like reinforcement to the back, as is the case with the work at hand. Pushman prefered to use antique frames, many of which he bought in Paris and had restored and refitted for his paintings in New York. In 1923 Pushman moved to New York and opened a stud Read more…