Portrait of Two Clowns by Diane Vidito (1963)

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Soberly expressive, half-length portrait of a pair of circus clowns, portrayed without sentimentality, by Boston artist DIANE VIDITO (b. 1931). … Read more Soberly expressive, half-length portrait of a pair of circus clowns, portrayed without sentimentality, by Boston artist DIANE VIDITO (b. 1931). Calling to mind some of Picasso’s early work, in palette and tonality, the overall mood of this effective painting is tender—and fully human—melancholy, devoid of bitterness. A gifted artist and draftsman, Vidito’s work was never promoted, perhaps out of deference to her husband's career, painter and successful art dealer Donald Roy Purdy (1924–2016). Unframed oil on Masonite.

DIANE VIDITO was born in 1931. She married the Post-Impressionist painter and art dealer Donald Roy Purdy. His parents invited the young newlyweds to stay at their cottage outside of New Haven while they were getting started. For seven years, the Purdys ran rooming houses in central New Haven, while they gutted and flipped multi-dwelling housing properties. In each building, a room would be designated as their living quarters, another as a gallery, and Purdy would paint in the basement—leaving 6-7 rooms for tenants. It was a modestly successful scheme; the prolific Purdy managed to paint every night, and Vidito ran the gallery. The couple eventually left the New Haven area for Boston, and Purdy was able to parlay his painting into a lucrative career as an art dealer.

Vidito was primarily active as a painter in the 1950s. She was known for her modernist paintings, which often captured urban landscapes and portraits that reflected the vibrancy of mid-20th-century life. Her work displayed a unique blend of color and form, and her style combined elements of realism with a modernist approach, making her pieces relatable and artistically rich. Fellow artists have frequently noted her lovely use of line and color and the overall quality of her craftsmanship. Her contributions to the art scene, particularly in Cambridge, Mass., remain noteworthy, and her paintings continue to be appreciated for their historical context and artistic merit, resonating with both collectors and enthusiasts today. She was an occasional printmaker. See less