Born to Paint: Two Brothers, Two Paths

Continued: More Noble Curry Artwork from Pennsylvania Family Members' Collections

Noble was a prolific artist starting when he was a documentary platoon artist in WWI. Here are more photos taken by me in June, 2016 during my visit with Noble's grandchildren in Pennsylvania.

A bonafide painting? Or a brush-cleaning palette? Family members are unsure! Regardless, there is a dynamism that is similar to the later abstract paintings by Noble. (Approximately 10" x 18")

Finally, two black and white etchings show an early interest in depicting the human face with a range of expressions:

A portrait, an etching, done in 1927.

An etching titled "Head."

The Family and the Art of Noble Curry

June found me traveling to Cleveland to meet up with my cousins who are the younger daughter of, and the grandchildren of Noble Curry. During one day trip out of Cleveland to SW Pennsylvania, I met 6 of the 7 children of Noble's older, deceased daughter. We gathered at one of their homes (thank you, Kitty!) and after lunch together I took photos of many of the artworks by Noble the six grandchildren had brought to share. What a rare opportunity to view more of his work and to meet these second cousins! (Janet's daylily against old barn boards announces the coming of summer.)

 

I want to thank my warm, welcoming cousins for taking time off work, for driving long distances to get together, and for sharing their original artworks from their grandfather so that I might add the images to this ongoing documentation. They are proud of their grandfather's artwork. Many of these cousins now display giclée canvas reproductions of Wylie Curry's painting of Jean Curry, my aunt. The two brothers might be surprised by this evidence of mutual appreciation shown by all the offspring.

 

In my view, the portrait of Jean was my grandfather's masterpiece. The self-portrait of Noble, below, is what I consider to be his masterpiece based on the many paintings of his I have seen and shown on this site. Others may disagree with me, but I feel that it is a standout painting worthy of being seen by many.

The power and beauty of this self-portrait by Noble Curry took my breath away when I saw it in southwest Pennsylvania in June. The piercing eyes, the nearly sweet colors and the bold strokes paint a complex man. (Approximately 30" x 40")

Noble's daughter Mary and her daughter Christy before the self-portrait.

 

Above, two mixed media paintings by Noble Curry (Approximately 16" x 20")

 

Nine second cousins and Mary, Noble's daughter, gathered around Kitty's table for lunch. A fine reunion!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two small pages from a sketchbook feature a loose watercolor scene on the left, and a pencil drawing on the right.

 

Particularly beloved by the grandchildren of Noble, this is a watercolor self-portrait. He rarely worked in this medium, especially later in life. This was painted in 1930 when he was 36.

 

A rare stone sculpture by Noble. (Approximately 13" x 7")

A black and white lithograph titled "Two People." (Approximately 10" x 14")