(b.Winthrop, Massachusetts 1903; d. Provincetown, Massachusetts 1959) American painter. Born in Massachusetts, John Whorf’s family had a strong connection to Cape Cod as fishing captains, traders and shipbuilders and Whorf felt strongly drawn to the sea. His father was an artist and encouraged his son’s desire to study art. Whorf was fourteen when he went to Provincetown to study with artists known within the Provincetown, Cape Cod and Islands community such as Max Bohm, George Elmer Brown, Richard Miller and Charles W. Hawthorne.* He then studied in Boston at the St. Botolph Studio under Sherman Kidd and at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts School. In 1919 he went to France and continued his education at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, the Grande Chaumiere and the Academie Colarossi. While living in France he took the opportunity to travel to Spain, Portugal and Morocco. He was a competent oil painter, but after his travels in Europe he embraced the medium of watercolor and became a renowned watercolorist. In 1924, the Grace Horne Gallery in Boston gave Whorf his first solo exhibition. His work has been recognized with medals from the California Water Color Society and the Art Institute of Chicago and an honorary M.A. from Harvard University. (Credit: * Skinner, Inc Boston, American & European Paintings & Prints, September 12, 2008, lot 647)
John Whorf (American, 1903 - 1959). Fisherman on a Lake. Watercolor on paper, signed "John Whorf" lower right, the reverse with label for Arvest Galleries, Inc., Boston," (14.5 x 21.25 inches, sight). Frame: H: 24.25 in., W: 30.5 in., D: 0.75 in. Provenance: Arvest Galleries, Boston, Massachusetts.
John Whorf (American, 1903 - 1959). Reflections: The North Star at Dock. Watercolor on paper, signed "John Whorf" lower right, (15 x 21.5 inches, sight). Frame: H: 21.5 in., W: 28.25 in., D: 1.25 in.
John Whorf (American, 1903-1959), winter scene, Provincetown, oil on canvas board, signed L/R, inscription verso to Robert C. Vose Galleries, 559 Boylston St, Boston, Massachusetts, 16" x 20", framed 22" x 26". Provenance: Palm Beach, Florida estate.
John Whorf (Am. 1903-1959) View Through the Window, Provincetown Watercolor on paper, framed under glass Signed on alternate composition verso, Vose Galleries label on backing verso 15 1/4" x 22 1/4" actual, 25 1/2" x 32 1/4" framed
Massachusetts/ Provincetown artist. Watercolor painting. Depicting a figure in a woodland landscape. Signed lower left. Sight size 13 1/2" x 20 1/2". It's in a modern gilded frame with new matting. The frame is 18" x 24 1/2". Good condition, not removed from frame.
JOHN WHORF (MA, 1903-1959) Eastern Point Lighthouse, Cape Ann in Gloucester, MA, watercolor on paper, signed lower left, ca 1950 with bell intact, in gold molded frame, matted under glass, OS: 22" x 28", SS: 14" x 19", lightly rippled.
JOHN WHORF (MA, 1903-1959) "Upland Game", watercolor on paper signed lower right, titled verso, depicting a man drawing a bead on game birds, in the company of his spaniel dog. In white mitered frame, matted under glass. OS: 23 1/2" x 30 1/2", SS: 14 1/2" x 21 1/2".
20th C. Watercolor on Paper Painting, Signed "John Whorf" (John Whorf, American 1903-1959). Painting of a female nude undressing. Excellent condition, matted and framed under glass, measures: 28" H x 24.75" W, image: 19" H x 16" W.
Fisherman in early sport fishing boat fighting a marlin. Paper gallery tag from the Milch Galleries, New York, New York titles the painting "The Fighting Marlin". Image measures 21.25" x 29". Signed lower right. Original frame measures 31.5" x 39.5".
John Whorf Massachusetts, USA, 1903-1959 [Boats at dock, 1934] Watercolor painting with colored pencil Whorf gained fame as a popular American watercolor artist who loved to depict landscapes from his native New England. This original painting depicts a handful of small boats docked around a small wild harbor with much vegetation and a few houses and buildings in the background. Signed and dated (1934), lower right.
John Whorf (1903 - 1959) Watercolor and gouache on paper, Signed to lower right 'John Whorf', Titled to verso "Summer Storm", piece measures 15.5 x 22 and 24.5 x 29.5 inches w/ frame depicting ashcan style scene with multiple subjects and far off landscape, beautiful color palette, Provenance from the Spanierman Gallery archives and later sold at their sale and since from Gallery. A native of Boston, John Whorf became a watercolorist known for his depictions of genre subjects and views of harbors and beach scenes. During the Depression years in Boston, he was one of the few artists whose work continued to sell.He was born in Winthrop, Massachusetts on January 10, 1903, descended from a long line of Cape Cod ship captains, and his father was an artist and graphic designer. He studied painting at the St. Botolph Studio and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts School under Charles Hawthorne and Max Bohm and at the Grande Chaumiere and Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. Then at age 18, Whorf had a paralyzing fall from which he had difficulty recovering.Whorf was awarded an honorary M.A. degree from Harvard University in 1938 and received a medal in 1938 and a prize in 1939 from the Art Institute of Chicago. He exhibited at the National Academy of Design annuals between 1945-1956 and 1958-1959.Initially he painted in oil, but changed to watercolor. His first exhibition of fifty-two paintings, when he was age twenty, sold out. He traveled in Europe and the United States. Whorf spent the last years of his life in Provincetown, Massachusetts and was part of its art colony for many years. He died there in 1959.
John Whorf Pont Neuf, Winter watercolor on paper 15.25 h x 22.375 w in (39 x 57 cm) Signed to lower right 'John Whorf'. Titled to label verso 'Port Neuf, Winter'. Provenance: The Milch Galleries, New York | Private Collection This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
John Whorf East River Rain watercolor on paper sight: 14.625 h x 21.5 w in (37 x 55 cm) Signed to lower right 'John Whorf'. Titled to label verso 'East River Rain'. Provenance: The Milch Galleries, New York | Private Collection This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
John Whorf Boulevard de Courcelles watercolor on paper sight: 14.125 h x 21.5 w in (36 x 55 cm) Signed and titled to lower right 'John Whorf Boulevard de Courcelles'. Titled to label verso 'Boulevard de Courcelles'. Provenance: The Milch Galleries, New York | Private Collection This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Watercolor on paper. Signed by the artist in the lower right corner. Early 20th century. Dimensions: Frame H 26" x W 30". Sight H 15.5" x W 19.5". Condition: Minor surface soiling and wear to edges of paper visible in frame. Not examined out of frame.
John Whorf (American, 1903-1959). Watercolor of a sailing ship, Winds. Signed and with inscription from Whorf lower left. 25 1/8" x 19 3/4" (with frame 28" x 22 3/4"). Chips and losses to frame. Provenance: Sotheby's, New York, sale 4650, June, 1981; private collection, New York City.
JOHN WHORF (American, 1903-1959) Seated Nude watercolor on paper signed John Whorf lower right; double-sided with verso depicting a woman hanging laundry
JOHN WHORF Massachusetts, 1903-1959 Double-sided work, one side depicting salmon fishing and the other side a country lane. Both sides signed lower right "John Whorf". Framed so both sides are visible.
Title: Harbor View Medium: Watercolor Painting Size: 14.75" x 19" Frame Size: 22.5" x 26.5" Condition: This artwork is in good overall condition for its age. Signature: Signed Artist: John Whorf(1903 - 1959)
John Whorf (1903-1959) oil on artist’s board, harbor scene titled 'Motif #1', signed lower left, John Whorf. Board 12.25” x 16”, Frame overall 16.5” x 20.25”.
John Whorf (1903-1959) watercolor on paper, fishing boat heading to sea, signed lower left, John Whorf. Image 14” x 20.5”, Overall in frame 25.75” x 32”.
John Whorf (Massachusetts, 1903-1959) Untitled Cape Cod View at Low Tide This early, atypical, modernist oil on canvas by Cape Cod watercolorist John Whorf is signed lower left front and accompanied by exhibition labels from ' Three Generations of the Whorf Family,' Cape Cod Museum of Art, Dennis, Massachusetts Summer of 2005; and Glimpses of a Provincetown Collection, a 20007 - 2008 exhibition also with the Cape Cod Museum of Art. John Whorf was a very popular, successful, and prolific artist best known for his impressionist watercolors of maritime subjects, coastal landscapes and New England genre scenes. Of the more than one thousand works by him posted to AskArt.com, only thirteen are oil paintings. None are in this early, significant Modernist style. Lot Provenance: This work was sold by Grogan Auctions December 14, 2014, lot 109. Their listing included the following: Lot Notes: Painting accompanied by correspondences between the owner, Vose Galleries, and the grandson of the artist. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this painting to benefit the Cape Cod Museum of Art, Dennis, Massachusetts. The work itself measures 19 x 19 inches. Without proof of exemption, be aware that internet sales tax applies to all Internet transactions and local sales tax may apply to local pick-up transactions. We happily provide seamless in-house packing and shipping services on nearly everything we sell. Until further notice, we cannot offer international shipping in-house.
John Whorf (American 1903 - 1959) Crashing Waves on Rocks Watercolor on paper Signed and inscribed lower right "To Ray with great affection John Whorf" 20" x 30"
John Whorf (American, 1903-1959). Large watercolor of a hunter on a snowy hill. Signed, lower right. Titled verso. [Art: 21 1/2 x 29 1/2 inches, Frame: 23 1/2 x 31 inches].
20th C. Watercolor on Paper Painting, Signed "John Whorf" (John Whorf, American 1903-1959). Painting of a female nude. Painting in excellent condition, matted and framed under glass, measures: 28" H x 24.75" W, image: 19" H x 16" W.
Title is Wind Swept. 15 1/2" by 22 1/2". John Whorf (1903 - 1959) was active/lived in Massachusetts. John Whorf is known for Street-landscape, marine and figure painting. Having been asked for many years by collectors of John Whorf's paintings why there was no definitive resource, the ten-year effort by family members of artist John Whorf to gather family memorabilia, art reviews and clippings, and to locate Whorf's work in private collections nationwide has culminated in the recently published book, John Whorf Rediscovered, available from AFA Publishing. With its detailed, accurate biography, family photographs, and more than 100 examples of Whorf's work - many of the paintings not seen publicly in seventy years - the coffee table-style book has become the definitive resource for collectors of John Whorf's work. The artistic journey of John Whorf began in Winthrop, Massachusetts where Whorf was born in 1903. At a young age he displayed a precocious talent and was given informal art lessons by his artist/graphic designer father, Harry Church Whorf, followed by instruction at the Boston atelier of Sherman Kidd, and at the Museum School where Whorf studied drawing with Philip Leslie Hale and painting with William James. As a teenager, Whorf's summer months were spent in Provincetown, then a mecca for artists and writers fleeing war-torn Europe during and after the First World War. Provincetown was the town of Whorf's ancestors, seafarers all until his grandfather, Isaiah, came ashore and established himself in the clothing trade in Boston. The family maintained a summer home in Provincetown where Whorf stayed every summer. By the age of sixteen, he had begun studies in Provincetown with George Elmer Browne (1871-1946) and Charles Webster Hawthorne (1872-1930) who were, unarguably, the two formative teachers in Whorf's life. During his many visits to Paris, Whorf enhanced his training at Ecole Colarossi, Academie Julian, Ecole des Beaux Arts, and Academie de la Grande Chaumiere. From Browne, Whorf acquired a strong sense of design as well as an appreciation for the evocative nocturnal scenes for which Browne was admired. From Hawthorne, who opened his Cape Cod School of Art and founded the Provincetown art colony in 1899, Whorf acquired the color sense that infuses his work. The Hawthorne "method" emphasized value and tone. Quick studies of outdoor models, called mudheads, were Hawthorne's method of teaching students to understand the contrast of form in illuminated and shadowed areas, as well as the subtle, related tones in color. In 1924, Whorf was given his first one-man exhibition at the Grace Horne Gallery in Boston where he remained an annual exhibitor for the next fifteen years. By 1927, Whorf was being represented in New York at the prestigious Milch Gallery, where he exhibited annually until his death in 1959. Whorf's Boston representation subsequently included the venerable Vose Gallery and Shore Studio Gallery. Boston art critic Robert Taylor remarked that, "Whorf's record of thirty-two annual exhibitions [referring to Boston, but with as many in New York], each selling out, will probably never be paralleled." With the cooperation of Milch Gallery, which served as Whorf's agent, Whorf occasionally participated in group exhibitions nationwide. By the late 1920s and then living in the Boston suburb of Brookline, Whorf had all but abandoned oil paint in favor of watercolor, which, he said, suited his temperament, his eagerness to awaken his sense of immediacy. Traditionally considered a tint medium, critics noted that Whorf's bold, virile use of watercolor, and his employment of oil painting techniques - the building of color - had broken new ground. Whorf's transition to watercolor is also explained, in part, by a childhood injury - a severed sciatic nerve that resulted from a splintered hip after Whorf jumped off an old Provincetown wharf and hit a submerged object - that resulted initially in paralysis and then in a lifelong permanent weakness in one leg that made it increasing difficult to transport the paraphernalia necessary for oil painting. Despite his disability, Whorf travelled widely in the early years of his career, taking long sojourns in France, Spain, North Africa, the West Indies, and the Appalachian, New York and Canadian wildernesses, painting views of Montparnasse, Moroccan bazaars, Breton villages, stream fishermen, gypsies, bathers and sea apples. "There is very little Whorf cannot do with watercolor," noted one reviewer. By the late-1930s, Whorf had ceased his far-flung travels and had relocated permanently from Boston to Provincetown where he began to nurture an increasingly indigenous viewpoint, Provincetown, Boston and rural New England furnishing him with a wealth of material and atmospheric mood. His beloved Provincetown was a never-ending source of inspiration and subject matter, the handsome design of the trap boats and the town's quaint byways and backyard gardens becoming favorite subjects. Among Whorf's many honors and recognitions are the Logan Medal, awarded by the Art Institute of Chicago in 1928, and his honorary Master of Arts degree awarded by Harvard University in 1938, Whorf being the first contemporary painter to be so recognized. That same year, Whorf was one of only two Boston artists to be selected by the Museum of Modern Art for its exhibition in Paris. The following year, the Art Institute of Chicago again honored Whorf with a special exhibition of his watercolors, alongside collections by Edward Hopper and Henri Matisse. In 1947, Whorf was elected to the National Academy of Design and, in 1948, to the American Watercolor Society. In Provincetown, he was a proud and active member of the famed Beachcombers. Whorf, who married Vivienne Wing in March 1925 and was the father of four children, died in Provincetown in 1959 at the age of 56. Whorf's paintings are included in private collections across America and he is represented in major museum collections, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum; Metropolitan Museum of Art: Museum of Fine Arts; Brigham Young University Museum of Art; Brooklyn Museum; Rhode Island School of Design Museum; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, List Visual Arts Center; National Academy of Design; Art Institute of Chicago; Indianapolis Museum of Art; Addison Gallery of American Art/Phillips Academy; Provincetown Art Association and Museum; Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum; Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University; Canton (Ohio) Museum of Art; Butler Institute of American Art; Baltimore Museum of Art; Pitti Gallery (Florence, Italy) and the National Museum, Copenhagen.
![John Whorf, Massachusetts, USA 1903-1959, [Boats at dock, 1934], Watercolor painting with colored pencil](https://stageimg.invaluable.com/housePhotos/linkauctiongalleries/56/774256/H18786-L377516845.JPG)
