Bidspirit auction | James Goodwin McManus (1882-1958) American

James Goodwin McManus (1882-1958) American - James Goodwin McManus (1882-1958) Oil on canvasboard, signed lower right ”James G. McManus”, piece measurews 12 x 16 and 18 x 22 inches w/frame. James Goodwin McManus was born in Hartford, Connecticut on February 5, 1882. He studied art under W.G. Bunce, Montague Flagg, Robert B. Brandegee, and Walter Griffin. He would become one of the most influential local artists in Connecticut. In 1910 he helped found the Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts and was its president from 1935 until 1938. He was also president of the Hartford Salmagundians. McManus was a member of the Springfield Art League, Lyme Art Association, Salmagundi Club, New Haven Paint and Clay Club, and the Connecticut Art Association. He won the Alice C. Dunham and popular prize in 1923, the Cooper prize in 1929, and the Connecticut Academy of Fine Art’s Bunce prize in 1930 and 1933. He was an instructor at Hartford Public High School and the Connecticut League of Art Students. He began working for the WPA Federal Arts Project in April 1936, but received no salary working as a “non-relief” artist until July 1940, when he left the project. McManus completed 32 easel works that were allocated to the Children’s Community Center in New Haven, Danbury Normal School, Undercliff Sanatorium, Center School in Windham, Pequot School in Southport, Board of Park Commissioners, Hartford Park Department, Hamden High School, Cedarcrest Sanatorium, the Teacher’s Club in Manchester, Rocky Hill Soldiers’ Home, Beach Park School in West Hartford, the State Teacher’s College in New Haven, and the Hartford Adult School. In 1954 the Wadsworth Athenaeum held a one man show of his work. McManus died on September 5, 1958, and is buried in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Hartford. Condition: The absence of a condition report does not imply an object is free of defects. All items may have normal signs of age and wear commensurate with their age; these issues will likely not be mentioned in the condition report. Please contact the auction house before the auction with any condition questions. Questions about condition will not be answered after purchase. Condition reports are provided as a courtesy, and we are not responsible for any errors or omissions. Important note on frames: Frames are not guaranteed to be in the same condition as they are in the item photograph. Due to handling and shipping, many frames, especially antique ones, are prone to losses. If you have questions about the condition of a frame, please contact us prior to the auction.