John Little
Wentworth Street St. John New Brunswick, 1979
1928 -
Oil on canvas
12 x 16 in
30.5 x 40.6 cm
Copyright Alan Klinkhoff Gallery
30.5 x 40.6 cm
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Further images
Inscriptions
signed "JOHN / LITTLE" (lower right); titled in black ink by the artist, "Wentworth Street St John / New Brunswick" (verso, top horizontal stretcher); signed and dated in black ink, "JOHN LITTLE / '79" (verso, top horizontal stretcher); inscribed by the artist in black ink, "Charles Ellsworth 'Pee Wee' Russell / born - Maplewood Missouri - March 27, 1906 / died - Alexandria Virginia - February 15, 1969" (verso, left vertical stretcher); inscribed by the artist in black ink, "79-13" (verso, lower horizontal stretcher); inscribed by the artist in black ink, "reproduction right / reserved by artist" (verso, right vertical stretcher); inscribed in black ink, "JL-760" (verso, lower horizontal stretcher).Provenance
Continental Galleries, Montreal, Inventory No. JL-760, as Went Worth Street, St. John, N.B.Balzac Fine Arts, Toronto, #91, as Wentworth Street, St. John New Brunswick
Private collection, Calgary
Little’s tribute to the legendary jazz horn player, saxophone and clarinet, Charles Ellsworth 'Pee Wee' Russell is an expression of his love of jazz. As we wrote previously, he does sneak in these “tombstones” now and then on the reverse of his paintings. His inscription may also relate to a date of beginning or completion of the painting, maybe even the date he visited the street, perhaps February 15 or March 27 of 1979.
Little has not often painted St. John. He does actually have a number of photographs he shot there. This is a city with a rich history, an affluence with a foundation in its importance as a centre of shipbuilding. One can appreciate that the design and architecture is consistent with Little’s interests.
Little has not often painted St. John. He does actually have a number of photographs he shot there. This is a city with a rich history, an affluence with a foundation in its importance as a centre of shipbuilding. One can appreciate that the design and architecture is consistent with Little’s interests.
