Nicolas Africano
(Illinois, b. 1948)
Artificer, 1971
Color etching on paper
5 3/4" x 3 3/4" (plate size)

Pencil-signed and numbered (#1/1) to the bottom margin. Presented behind glass in a wooden frame that measures 13 3/4" x 8 3/4".

The title is likely adapted from James Joyce's memorable closing to A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man: “Old father, old artificer, stand me now and ever in good stead.” The passage in the image reads: "Artificer. Look at what you do. It is maladjustment. Maker of ether who sucked of ether, rendering passionate mistakes. The rendering the misgiving: self-effacing; the discharge in desperation, of poison fumes."

Provenance: From the Bill & Ellen Morgan collection. Bill Morgan is a professor emeritus of English at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. It was there that he befriended Nicolas Africano, and he quickly became a patron and collector of the Africano's work as well; for a time Morgan rented Africano a room, occasionally accepting artwork in lieu of payment. This far-reaching collection from an early adopter gives a unique opportunity to access rare early works and get an expansive view of the artist during several pivotal moments in his journey.

Alternate spelling: Nicholas Africano

Good condition. There is a little bit of rubbing to the green running vertically along the left side of the image from contact with the glass, a bit of outgassing to the inside of the glass, and very mild smudging in the bottom margin. Not removed from the frame.