Philip Perkins (Tennessee, 1907-1970), "The French Sailor," oil on canvas portrait of a young man with light brown hair in white shirt and blue pants, seated with one knee in front of his chest, his head slightly tilted. Unsigned. Housed in an ovolo-carved parcel gilt frame, likely hand carved by Clarence Stringfield (Tennessee, 1903-1976). Sight – 30" H x 24" W. Framed – 36" H x 30" W. Provenance: the estate of Kent Cathcart, Nashville, Tennessee. Note: this lot is accompanied by a June 25, 1954, copy of a letter from the artist Philip Perkins bequeathing this painting (along with several others) to his longtime friend, Kent Cathcart. Biography: Philip Perkins received critical acclaim for his geometric, cubist influenced work of the 1940s and his abstract expressionism in the 1950s. He was born in Waverly, Tennessee and studied at Vanderbilt University and the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1932 he moved to Paris, France, where he studied under Jean Marchaud, Louis Marcoussis, and Fernand Leger. In 1934 he exhibited at the Salon D'Automne and the Salon de Tuileries. In 1940 he moved to New York City and in 1947 participated in the International Surrealist Exhibition. He spent seven years teaching art at the University of Tennessee in Nashville (1948-1955) but went back to Europe for several more years before returning to Nashville in 1961. CONDITION: Overall good condition. Some slight tenting to canvas along center and upper quarter. Scattered pin sized areas of loss, mostly to lower half. Some wear and minor losses to frame.