Lot 1171: 14 George Cress Figural Drawings Incl. Signed

A collection of fourteen (14) George Cress (American/Tennessee, 1921-2008) figural drawings and sketches including one (1) matted charcoal and pen drawing on paper with a nude male who stands up to his ankles in water, signed, dated 1944, and inscribed “[illegible] Bathers – Corsica”; one (1) graphite drawing on illustration board with a reclining nude, signed and dated 1955; one (1) black ink drawing on paper of a nude male with raised arms, signed and dated 1951; two (2) graphite drawings on paper of nude men, one seated, both signed and dated 1960 and 1963; one (1) stylized black ink drawing on paper of a mother and child, initialed and dated 1946; one (1) black ink and pencil on paper drawing of men with birds; three (3) purple ink on paper drawings of reclining female nudes; one (1) black ink on sketchbook paper of a man in a hat; two (2) graphite on sketchbook paper studies of seated and standing figures; and one (1) graphite on sketchbook paper drawing of fishermen. All with museum accession numbers en verso or to backing. Dimensions range from 3 3/8 in W x 8 7/16 in H to x 21 3/4 in H x 9 in W. Biographical note: “George Cress was born in Anniston, Alabama and studied at Emory University, American University, and the University of Georgia, where he studied under fellow Southern contemporary artist Lamar Dodd. He was a central figure in Chattanooga’s arts community and served as President of the Tennessee Arts Council. He sat on the board of the Hunter Museum of Art. From 1951-1984 he was painter in residence at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga. The Cress Gallery of Art at UTC is named in his honor.” (Source: The Tennessee Historical Quarterly Vol. XLIV No. 2: Landscape and Genre Painting in Tennessee 1810-1985).

PROVENANCE: Property of the Hunter Museum of American Art.

CONDITION: Overall very good condition. Some sheets with toning, minor staining, and handling wear primarily to edges.