Lot 161: Noel Rockmore O/C, Andrew Anderson from Preservation Hall Series

Noel Rockmore (New York/New Orleans,1928-1995) oil on masonite portrait of trumpet musician Andrew Anderson, from Rockmore’s Preservation Hall series of paintings. Illustrated under the entry for Andrew Anderson in “Preservation Hall Portraits: Paintings by Noel Rockmore” by Larry Borenstein and Bill Russell, Louisiana State University, 1968 (no page numbers). Simple woodgrain frame with linen mat. Sight: 24 in H x 15 1/4 in W. Frame: 29 in H x 20 in W. Note: New Orleans Jazz Trumpeter Andy Anderson was the son of bass player George Anderson. His first professional job was in 1925-26 with Willie Foster’s band at Buck Humphrey’s. In 1927 Anderson organized the Pelican Silvertone Band. He worked at a number of New Orleans Jazz Clubs in addition to Preservation Hall, and on two river steamers. He also recorded with George Lewis and the Young Tuxedo Brass Band. A photocopy of the page in the book detailing his career is available to the winning bidder. Artist biography: The son of New York artists Floyd and Gladys Rockmore Davis, Noel Rockmore was considered a child prodigy. He studied at the Art Students League and was given a show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art at the age of 24; exhibitions at the Whitney Museum, Pennsylvania Academy and Cleveland Institute of Art followed. Rockmore made his first visit to New Orleans in 1960 and soon relocated there. By 1962, he had begun his project to paint the old Jazz musicians playing at Preservation Hall in the French Quarter, making quick preliminary studies in polymer followed by oils painted during a single sitting in his studio. 

PROVENANCE: The collection of Dr. and Mrs. James O’Neill, Nashville.

CONDITION: Painting in overall very good condition; a couple of faint scratches. Spotting to mat.