John B. Lear American, 1910-2008
Respite, 1987

£3,500

Pencil on paper
Signed and dated (lower right)
29cm × 21cm (48cm × 39cm framed)

A truly original artist, Lear spent most of his 70 year career exploring beautifully proportioned male figures. His style is influenced by mid-century artists such as Paul Cadmus and George Tooker, but his originality stems from often placing his figures into fantastical and surrealist settings. He continued working until the end of his long life and was reported to have been preparing another exhibition immediately prior to his death, aged 98. His works are in the permanent collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and several other museums.