Lot 1072: Geneva Mercer (American, 1889-1984)

Geneva Mercer (American, 1889-1984), "The Swing", 1916, bronze, cast signature and date on self-base, height 16 in become well known for paintings of urban street scenes of his historic neighborhood, vibrant still-lifes, modern industrial vistas of the Mississippi River and bayous of southern Louisiana. By the early 1980s, Gunning exhibited with Bienvil le Gallery and soon earned acclaim for his work. This idosyncratic still life depicts a tabletop filled with personal items including a pair of glasses, a jar of flowers from the garden, seashells, and a book matches. Easily identifiable autobiographical elements of the pen and jar of ink, which allude to his emerging artistic career, a goldfish bowl reflecting the windows of his studio, and to the right a view of his neighborhood.