“Still Life With Bottles” by Anne Estell Rice (1877-1959)

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From the 1920s onwards, American modernist painter and illustrator Anne Estelle Rice (1877-1959) focused on painting warm, rich still lifes … Read more From the 1920s onwards, American modernist painter and illustrator Anne Estelle Rice (1877-1959) focused on painting warm, rich still lifes like this one done in vibrant, Post-Impressionist and Fauvist styles. This work depicts several bottles, an ice bucket with tongs, a glass, and lemons arranged on a table. One bottle clearly shows the label "D.O.M. VENE ITALY," referencing the popular Bénédictine liqueur. It was completed in the last year of the artist’s life.
Rice began by studying sculpture and illustration in Pennsylvania. She initially worked as a successful illustrator for major American magazines such as Collier's and The Saturday Evening Post before moving to Paris in 1905 to cover fashion. There she met Scottish painter John Duncan Fergusson, who encouraged her to pursue painting seriously. She was quickly absorbed into the circle of Post-Impressionist and Fauvist artists (known as the "Wild Beasts" and including Matisse), Under their influence, she adopted their use of "pure colour" and strong, expressive contour lines to create "life and movement" in her work.
Then it was off to London where she became a key figure and chief illustrator for the influential British arts and literary periodical Rhythm (1911–1913), which promoted radical new art and philosophy. After marrying British art critic Raymond Drey in 1913, she settled in London. Her interest in theatre led her to design stage sets and costumes for several London operatic productions. She also exhibited extensively in prestigious galleries and salons across Europe and the US, including the Salon d'Automne in Paris and major London galleries. Her work is held in numerous public collections, including the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and the Government Art Collection in England. Back home, the National Portrait Gallery's "Brilliant Exiles" exhibition helped spotlight Rice’s accomplishments and ensure her place in the history of American modernism. The work is offered unframed.
Signature with date: Lower right (photo #6). See less