Beautiful Merton D Simpson oil and acrylic. 25 x 19 inches. Provenance: private owner from New Jersey.
Biography: 1928 - 2013. One of eight children, Merton Simpson was born in 1928 and grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. While hospitalized with childhood diphtheria, he took to drawing. His talent was soon recognized by several Charlestonians, among them William Halsey, an artist who gave private instruction to the young Simpson. While working with Halsey, Simpson also worked at the Gibbes Museum, the only African American in the still segregated institution. Though not an orphan, Simpson was also a member of the Jenkins Orphanage Band, another important early experience, as music has been a lifelong inspiration to the artist.Simpson moved to New York in 1948 where he studied at the Cooper Union and at New York University, where one of his professors was Hale Woodruff. He also worked at Benevy's Frame shop, an experience Simpson calls his "real college." There he met artists Hans Hofmann, Max Weber and others who would encourage him by commenting on his work. His confidence was further bolstered when one of his works, Nocturnal City, was exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1952.College was interrupted when Simpson joined the Air Force in 1951. Designated an official Air Force artist, he painted portraits of officers including one of General Eisenhower, and he also played in a jazz combo on the base. After concluding his military service in 1954, Simpson returned to New York to resume his studies and employment at the frame shop.

All authorship of items in this catalog are described according to the following terms:

Signed [Artist Name] : In cases in which the signature is legible in the lot, this work is described as-is with no attributions given.

By [Artist Name] : The work is by the artist.

Attributed to [Artist Name] : The work may be ascribed to the artist on the basis of style, but there may be some question as to actual authorship.

In the manner of [Artist Name] : The work was executed by an unknown hand, but was designed deliberately to emulate the style of the artist.

After [Artist Name] : The work was executed by an unknown hand, but is a deliberate copy of a known work by the artist.

Circle of [Artist Name] : A work of the period of the artist showing his influence, closely associated with the artist but not necessarily his pupil.

Follower of [Artist Name]: A work by a pupil or a follower of the artist (not necessarily a pupil).

American, 19th century: This work was executed by an unknown hand, and can only be identified by origin (i.e., region, period).

Mint, based on the description