ROBERT BEVERLY HALE
American (1901-1985)
Untitled
(Five Works)
India ink on paper, (a,b,c) signed and dated lower right "Robert B. Hale '59" (d) signed lower left "Robert B. Hale" (e) unsigned
(a) 40 x 30 inches (b,c,d,e) 22 x 29 inches

Provenance: Estate of the artist; Private Collection, Massachusetts.

Other Notes:
Robert Beverly Hale most notably founded the Contemporary American Art Department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1948. He retired from that post in 1966 as curator emeritus. In 1979, an exhibition celebrating works Hale brought to the museum included Edward Hopper, Ivan Albright, Stuart Davis, Josef Albers, Ben Shahn, Burgoyne Diller and Ellsworth Kelly. He introduced Abstract Expressionism to the museum despite considerable opposition from the museum's trustees.
Hale graduated from Columbia College in 1923 and continued his studies in Paris at La Sorbonne and in private art academies and studios. In 1937, he studied at the Art Students League in New York and later served as the school's Vice President on the board of control from 1939-1943. At the Art Students League Hale taught drawing and anatomy while also lecturing in drawing at Columbia and anonymously reviewing shows for Art News Magazine.

As an abstract expressionist, his works were featured in exhibitions at the Stamford Museum and the Staempfli Gallery in NewYork. He also published poetry in The New Yorker.

In a 1960 review of Hale's drawings in Time magazine a critic wrote:
"Good drawing has declined tremendously in recent years, because if anyone draws well he is attacked as being sentimental or anecdotal. The result is that many teachers cannot draw well and neither can their pupils. Therefore they are doomed to create what I call geometrical or biological abstractions—Scotch plaid or turkey-dinner paintings." Hale's own drawings look rather like Rorschach tests that the doctor never thought of. Using India ink and a very long brush, Hale sketches in the shadows of ideas. These blotlike shadows have sensitivity and boldness—a happy combination—but what do they signify? Plenty, he says: "In some cases I think I have achieved negative realism. In a few years I think it will be possible to communicate with life on other planets around the sun. I suspect we will learn more about negative realism from the beings on other planets. Negative realism is in the subconscious. New artists must break a hole in the subconscious and go fishing there."

In 1948, Metropolitan Museum director Francis Henry Taylor asked Hale to organize the Department of Contemporary American Art. In 1950, Hale was caught in the middle between the "Irascible 18" artists and their protest that the juries were "notoriously hostile to advanced art." Hale defended himself by stating that "certain advanced artists refrained from entering the competition." Hale facilitated the Met's acquisition of Jackson Pollock's monumental poured painting Autumn Rhythm, 1950, despite much resistance from the museum's trustees. He retired as curator emeritus in 1966 and continued teaching at the Art Students League until 1982.

Hale's parents collected avant-garde 20th century art. His aunt Ellen Day Hale (1855-1940), uncle Phillip Leslie Hale (1865-1931) and cousin Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983) were all artists.

Hale died at 84 years old at his home in Newburyport, Massachusetts, he was also a resident of Hydra, Greece.1

1 William R. Greer, "Robert Hale Dies; A Former Curator; Founder of Met's Department of Modern American Art —Celebrated in '79 Show," The New York Times, November 15, 1985.

tags: post war, works on paper, Abstract Expressionist, Metropolitan Museum, modern / contemporary

Conditions of Sale

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items listed and uses judgment in attributing authorship, but offers
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CONDITIONS OF SALE
After: A work of art or object made in the style of an artist or maker, but not by the artist. Sometimes refers multiples that may have used an
artist's mold or plate, but were reproduced by someone other than the artist, including posthumous works. Can also be used to describe a
direct reproduction after an original work of art.
Attributed (attr.): In our opinion, probably or possibly a work of art by the artist. The work is either unsigned, and/or lacks adequate provenance or authentication by experts in the field.
Bears Signature: The work is signed, but the work and signature may not be by the hand of the artist.
Manner of: Made in the likeness or style of an artist, with a slight possibility that it was made by the artist or by a follower or student of the
artist. Also see "After" and "Attributed".
Possibly: Being something that may or may not be true or actual without guarantee.
Probably: Supported by evidence strong enough to establish presumption but not proof. We do not guarantee it to be true.
School: Usually relates to a particular artistic or aesthetic movement. It can also relate to an actual school or to followers of a particular artist
or maker. Also see: "Manner of", "Style", "Attributed to" and "After".
Style: After the time period in which the style originated, or a more recent reproduction (ie: Style of Pablo Picasso or Cubist Style), used to
refer to the style of a particular artist or artistic movement, generally made long after that time period.

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Payment may be made by cash, check or wire transfer. Visa, Master Card and Amex may be used up to the amount of $5,000 per auction. We currently
collect sales tax in CT, KS, MA, MI, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI and
VA and remit the appropriate sales tax. If we do not collect sales
tax in your state, it is still your responsibility to pay the proper tax
on your purchases.
ALL ITEMS MUST BE PAID FOR WITHIN 14 DAYS OF THE SALE, AT WHICH POINT THEY WILL BE RELEASED FOR SHIPMENT OR DELIVERY.

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Buyer's Premium

A premium of 25% of the successful bid will be applied to the
individual hammer price of all lots sold, to be paid by the buyer
as part of the purchase price. Purchases made through
Invaluable will be subject to an additional 5% charge (30%
total buyer's premium) and purchases made online through
shannons.com will be subject to an additional 2% charge
(27% buyer's premium). Payment may be made by, check,
ACH or wire transfer. Visa, MasterCard and Amex may
be used up to the amount of $5,000 per auction. We currently
collect sales tax in CT, KS, MA, MI, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI and
VA and remit the appropriate sales tax. If we do not collect sales
tax in your state, it is still your responsibility to pay the proper tax
on your purchases.
ALL ITEMS MUST BE PAID FOR WITHIN 14 DAYS OF THE SALE, AT WHICH POINT THEY WILL BE RELEASED FOR SHIPMENT OR DELIVERY.

Taxes on your purchase

We currently collect sales tax in CT, KS, MA, MI, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI and
VA and remit the appropriate sales tax. If we do not collect sales
tax in your state, it is still your responsibility to pay the proper tax
on your purchases.
ALL ITEMS MUST BE PAID FOR WITHIN 14 DAYS OF THE SALE, AT WHICH POINT THEY WILL BE RELEASED FOR SHIPMENT OR DELIVERY.

Condition Statement & Glossary of Terms

Shannon's LLC Fine Art Auctioneers acts solely as an agent for various owners and consignors. It exercises care in describing all items listed and uses judgment in attributing authorship, but offers no guarantee regarding authenticity, condition, or description. The items described in this catalog, which description may be amended by notice or announcement at sale time, are offered for sale by Shannon's LLC as agent for various owners or others authorized to sell the items.

Glossary of Terms:
After:A work of art or object made in the style of an artist or maker, but not by the artist. Sometimes refers multiples that may have used an artist's mold or plate, but were reproduced by someone other than the artist, including posthumous works. Can also be used to describe a direct reproduction after an original work of art.
Attributed (attr.):In our opinion, probably or possibly a work of art by the artist. The work is either unsigned, and/or lacks adequate provenance or authentication by experts in the field.
Bears Signature: The work is signed, but the work and signature may not be by the hand of the artist.
Manner of: Made in the likeness or style of an artist, with a slight possibility that it was made by the artist or by a follower or student of the artist. Also see "After" and "Attributed".
Possibly:Being something that may or may not be true or actual without guarantee.
Probably:Supported by evidence strong enough to establish presumption but not proof. We do not guarantee it to be true.
School:Usually relates to a particular artistic or aesthetic movement. It can also relate to an actual school or to followers of a particular artist or maker. Also see:"Manner of", "Style", "Attributed to" and "After".
Style:After the time period in which the style originated, or a more recent reproduction (ie: Style of Pablo Picasso or Cubist Style), used to refer to the style of a particular artist or artistic movement, generally made long after that time period.