"Forever Indian" 1920

Oil on canvas, unframed

Signed "Gwerksus, 1920" l.l., Estate Stamp "Estate of Charles Lewis Fox No. 74" on stretcher

60" x 36"

Provenance: Gifted from Charles Lewis Fox Trust to the Farnsworth Art Museum in 1960, deaccessioned from museum in 1987 and acquired by Private Collection Massachusetts

Exhibitions: Memorial Exhibition of the Work of Charles Lewis Fox, Sweat Memorial Art Museum (Portland Museum of Art) , Portland ME July 5 - August, 31 1927

Literature: Copies of various newspaper articles and other documents about the artist and the piece are provided with the lot

Other Notes: "Gwerksus" is the artist's alternate name. The artist was an architect from M.I.T and two-time socialist candidate for governor for the State of Maine and studied art under Leon Bonnat at École de Beaux Arts, Paris. Fox was a well-regarded artist at the time and taught many Maine artist at his summer art commune in North Bridgton, Maine and the utopian Fox Art School in Portland that the artist cooperatively ran with Curtis Perry, his partner in life, with the motto "to work and paint for the brotherhood of mankind. Marsden Hartley attended the summer commune in July 1901, writing approvingly that Fox's and Perry's aim was "to live the higher life and to apply it to their art." Much of Fox's art focused on Native American lore and legend and the artist lived with Native Americans for several years out West and with the Penobscots in Old Town, Maine. His alternate name, Gwerksus, meaning "Little Fox" in Wabnaki, was given affectionately to him by the Penobscots, a rare honor afforded few white people. While much of Fox's art was created among the Native Americans, this painting is reported to have been painted in Portland, Maine. The bulk of the artist's estate was donated to the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland, Maine.