McCullough Partee (Tennessee, 1900-1989) oil on canvas illustration art grisalle painting titled "The Wishing Well" depicting a young woman with long hair and a black, off the shoulder dress gazing at the viewer and standing by a well as she is approached by a man in a fedora and jacket, before a brick wall and a staircase in the background. Signed "MCC Partee" lower left and "McCullough Partee" lower right. Typed artist's biography and Lyzon, Nashville, TN label, en verso. Housed in a silver metallic painted wooden frame with black trim. Sight: 27 1/4" H x 33 1/2" W. Framed: 33 1/4" H x 39 1/8" W. Provenance: Art Collection of former Watkins College of Art; proceeds benefit scholarship endowment for students in the new Watkins College of Art at Belmont University. Biography: Mccullough Partee was born in Nashville in his grandfather's home across from the Tennessee State Capitol. He studied at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, and at the Art Institute of Chicago (where he later taught). In New York, he studied at the Art Students League with George Bridgman and Edward Penfield, at Grand Central School of Art with Harvey Dunn and Pruett Carter, and at the National Academy of Design with Charles Hawthorne (whose work is also represented in this auction). Although an easel painter, he was perhaps known for his illustration work, which appeared in Colliers, Liberty, and the Country Gentleman. In 1948, while working as art editor of the Southern Agriculturist, he was named a director of the Nashville Museum of Art; he also taught at the Nashville School of Fine Arts and was listed in Who's Who in American Art. A retrospective of his work was held at the Nashville Artist Guild in 1987 (Source: the Nashville Tennessean, June 5, 1987, Oct 11, 1951).

Overall very good condition with craquelure. Areas of paint flakes, largest 3/8", primarily top right of canvas. 2" white paint mark with slight dent, lower left. Frame with minor areas of loss to paint.