TORNADO OVER KANSAS
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TORNADO OVER KANSAS
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John Steuart Curry was born in 1897 in the state of Kansas, in the house that you see in the painting, "Tornado Over Kansas". When he was 18, he left home to study art in Kansas City and Chicago. He made a living by illustrating books and magazines.
For eight months he studied in Paris, France. When he returned from Paris, he moved to Connecticut. There he painted "The Baptism". People were not painting about this subject at the time, but a wealthy woman saw it. She liked it so well that she told Curry that she would support him financially.
(Look at the link, "Article about Curry" to read an article about him and look at some of his paintings. You can even click on the Real Audio link and hear the interview that is recorded here.)
In the spring of 1932, he traveled with the circus and made many drawings and did some paintings of circus scenes. (See the links below about Circus Elephants and Baby Ruth .)
Some people in Kansas didn't like his painting of the tornado. They thought it would make people think that Kansas was not a good place to live.
The state of Kansas asked him to paint a mural in the state house, but they didn't agree with his ideas for the pictures, and they asked him to stop painting it. He was very upset and wouldn't even sign the paintings that he had already finished. Nearly 50 years later, the legislature apologized and bought the drawings he had done.
After he died in 1946, his paintings were removed from exhibits and people forgot about him. Years later though, they began to realize that he really had been a good artist and had a message for the people. His paintings began to be shown again.
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Article about Curry
(Several of his paintings are on this page.)
Baptism in Kansas
Sanctuary
painting by Curry
The Line Storm
by Curry
Circus Elephants
National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.
Sister Wendy's American Masterpieces
By Sister Wendy Beckett / Dk Publishing
One of the world's best-loved art historians, Sister Wendy Beckett combines her considerable knowledge of art history and modern art with her unique powers of observation to create an unrivaled personal anthology of over 115 of the greatest masterpieces in American painting. From Albers and Audubon to Warhol and Wyeth, the artists are arranged alphabetically, each represented by one or two key works. Homegrown American favorites, such as Homer and Hopper, are presented alongside pioneering Europeans who became active in the US, including Duchamp, Hockney, and De Kooning, to create a striking juxtaposition of artistic styles and achievements. Illuminating Insights include: White Flag by Jaspar Johns, Early Sunday Morning by Edward Hopper, Blue Poles: No. II by Jackson Pollock and M-Maybe (A Girl's Picture) by Roy Lichtenstein are among the icons of American art featured in this broad-ranging collection. Sister Wendy Beckett offers fresh insights into even the most famous paintings, superbly chronicling the key movements, developments, and artists in the history of American paintings.
Famous Artists in this Series
Index to Famous Paintings
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