Featured 1930s Robert Johnson Painting - Which R Johnson do I have?

Discussion in 'Art' started by journeymagazine, Feb 10, 2018.

  1. journeymagazine

    journeymagazine Well-Known Member

    I found this at my local thrift store & bought it not because I loved it but because when I googled the name I saw Robert Johnson was a known listed artist.
    But when I got home and looked - there are a lot of Robert Johnson artists!
    This one was from same period, but signature is very different: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Robert-Joh...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

    Can anyone tell me about the artist on my old painting?
    Thank you
    AA EBAY NEW A ART PAINTING ROBERT JOHNSON 1AA.jpg AA EBAY NEW A ART PAINTING ROBERT JOHNSON 3AA.jpg AA EBAY NEW A ART PAINTING ROBERT JOHNSON 4AA.jpg AA EBAY NEW A ART PAINTING ROBERT JOHNSON 4BAA.jpg
     
  2. Bev aka thelmasstuff

    Bev aka thelmasstuff Colored pencil artist extraordinaire ;)

    Google maps says 963 Springfield Rd, Darby CT is a commercial building. 963 Springfield Rd, Darby PA is a house.
     
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  3. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    It's Derby, CT, isn't it? The house in Darby, Pennsylvania is rather a poor one.

    Debora
     
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  4. moreotherstuff

    moreotherstuff Izorizent

  5. journeymagazine

    journeymagazine Well-Known Member

    I saw those - the signatures are much more... slanted?
     
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  6. verybrad

    verybrad Well-Known Member

    Looked at several Robt. Johnson artists and was unable to come up with a match. I think this rather nice and worthy of more research.
     
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  7. MrNate

    MrNate Well-Known Member

    Let me start by saying this is a beautiful painting. The cracking of the paint, tone of the back of the canvas, and darkness of the wood all line up with the supposed age of the piece.

    A couple observations, most of the signatures of the artist seem to have his full first name. The signature looks different compared to his other identified works. I also don’t see other works where he lists the year of the painting.

    Possible explanation: It’s still entirely possible the work is from him; perhaps someone that owned the artwork signed it years later to identify him. It’s always a possibility that someone painted it in his style, but given that he is not a super well known artist, why spend the time to do that? If I were in your shoes, I would research which art galleries have successfully taken his work to auction. I would contact directly and ask for an auction estimate. You might just “back in” to a confirmation of authenticity at no cost.
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2018
  8. journeymagazine

    journeymagazine Well-Known Member

    Great idea, thank you!
     
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  9. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    You might want to start by calling the Darby library and ask the reference librarian to look up the Johnson family listing at that address in the 1931 telephone directory. That may give you other information such as profession of head of household and names of family members.

    Debora
     
  10. KingofThings

    KingofThings 'Illiteracy is a terrible thing to waist' - MHH

    That could be Mt. Baker in N Western Washington state.
     
  11. vdaviss1615

    vdaviss1615 New Member

    I have a painting with the same handwriting, but just signed “Johnson”. Would love to know more too!
     
  12. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    Why don't you ask the Darby, PA research librarian? S/he may know of the Johnson family or can do a telephone directory search for you. (The old directories identified the professions of heads of households.)

    http://darbylibrary.org/contact-us/

    Debora
     
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