Lot 183: William Dunlap painting, Rose Hill

William Dunlap (American/Mississippi, b. 1944) large mixed media on paper painting, “After the Storm – Rose Hill Plantation – And Friends,” depicting the property’s circa 1825 Federal brick home, also known as the Deberry Hurt House, and dogtrot cabin. Also illustrated and identified with the artist’s pencil captions are “Chloe the Wonder Horse,” Donkey “St. Ajoe”, and a pencil scene and a watercolor scene both depicting a tornado sweeping across farm land (captioned “Storm Front”). Signed in pencil script lower right. Mounted under glass atop linen in an ebonized, cove molded frame with gilt ribbon molded sight edge. Sight: 42 in. H x 50 in. W. Frame: 57 in. H x 64 in. W. Rose Hill/the Deberry Hurt House, is one of the oldest extant homes in Madison Co. and West Tennessee. The horse, Chloe, and donkey, St. Ajoe, were beloved recent residents of the farm. (St. Ajoe, in particular, achieved countywide renown for her intelligence and friendly temperament and for her heroic actions during a tornado, when she herded livestock away from downed live electrical wires). Mississippi-born artist William Dunlap is known for Southern landscape scenes fused with varied imagery to suggest narratives. He graduated with a degree in art from Mississippi College and received a MFA from the University of Mississippi in 1969. He went on to live in North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida and Virginia. HIs work has been exhibited at the Gibbes Museum of Art, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Mint Museum of Art, Morris Museum of Art, Mississippi Museum of Art, and Ogden Museum of Southern Art. (source: The Johnson Collection). 

PROVENANCE: Private West Tennessee collection, acquired directly from the artist.  

CONDITION: Overall excellent condition. Smudge or possible light intentional shadow at lower left edge; some possible faint drip spots lower right edge. Frame: Some scuffing to left center edge.