The Fountain
Artist:
Milton Avery
(American, 1885 or 1893 - 1965)
Date: 1946
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions:
28 x 36 in. (71.1 x 91.4 cm)
Credit Line: San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Milton Avery Trust
Object number: 93.12
Copyright: © Milton Avery / Artists Rights Society, NY
Label Text
In 1946, Milton Avery and his wife—artist Sally Avery—took their family to Mexico. After crossing the border at Laredo, they intended to drive to Mexico City, but a serendipitous meeting redirected their travels to San Miguel de Allende where they became enchanted with the town. After six weeks, they traveled on to Guadalajara, Ajijic, Patzcuaro, and Morelia followed by Mexico City, Cuernavaca, Taxco, and Acapulco. Upon returning home, Avery busied himself producing paintings from the sketches and watercolors he made during their trip. Indeed, a watercolor, Indoor Courtyard, bears a striking resemblance to The Fountain.
The Fountain is indicative of Avery’s work with flattened planes of color and simplified forms. He once said, “I eliminate and simplify, leaving nothing but color and pattern.” In Mexico we see the impact of new inspirations. Architectural elements become more prominent and figures, like the burro and pig, become equal parts of the landscape.
(Regina Palm, 2023)
The Fountain is indicative of Avery’s work with flattened planes of color and simplified forms. He once said, “I eliminate and simplify, leaving nothing but color and pattern.” In Mexico we see the impact of new inspirations. Architectural elements become more prominent and figures, like the burro and pig, become equal parts of the landscape.
(Regina Palm, 2023)
On view
In Collection(s)
The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
