Painting
Object number2014.119.5
Artist
James Bonar
(1864 - 1942)
Date1914
OriginPittsburgh, PA
MediumOil on canvas; Wood
Credit LineGift of Ellen Bonar Wilt
DescriptionOil painting, or thumb box sketch, of an industrial coal scene. Color scene features industrial machinery on a pier on the right with a river, bridge, and city skyline (Pittsburgh?) on the left. Painted text on the machinery on the right has name of coal company, but is difficult to read, but may refer to J.M. Gilchrist Coal company.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth (unframed): 9.625 × 13.625 × 0.188 in. (24.4 × 34.6 × 0.5 cm)Height x Width x Depth (framed): 12.625 × 16.125 × 1 in. (32.1 × 41 × 2.5 cm)
Signed"JAMES BONAR / 1914" painted in bottom right corner.
InscriptionsPainted text on the machinery on the right reads "GILCHRIST[?] / COAL".
Handwritten notes in graphite on the back.
Paper in top left corner on back has text "PAPER... / LOOSE LEAF... / DUPLICATE / NUMBER / C.R. / [illegible] / PITTSBURGH".
White piece of paper attached with adhesive tape to back at top center has handwritten in graphite "_______ COAL / JAMES BONAR / 1914 / 9 1/2 h" x 13 1/2w"".
MarksPaper backing features repeated "CR" crown design.
Historical NotesThe donor Ellen Bonar Wilt is the granddaughter of Pittsburgh artist James Bonar. Part of a collection of oil paintings of industrial scenes by James Bonar (1864-1942). Bonar was a Scottish native who came to Pittsburgh to work for Carnegie in 1884. In 1893, he helped organize the Pittsburgh Gage and Supply Company. Later he organized his own firm, James Bonar and Company, that sold steam appliances. During WWI, he was the superintendent of expedition at U.S. Steel before being selected in 1919 as the Superintendent of Buildings by the Pittsburgh Board of Education. As an artist he served for many years as the President of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh.
Related institution
J.M. Gilchrist Coal
Related institution
James Bonar and Company
Related institution
Pittsburgh Gage and Supply Company
Related institution
United States Steel Corporation
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