Lot 579

FINE CLASSICAL SIGNED PAINTING, C. 1890

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FINE CLASSICAL SIGNED PAINTING, C. 1890

Estimate: $500 - $1,000

Starting Bid: $400

(0 Bids)

by Jackson's International
August 12, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
2229 Lincoln Street
Cedar Falls, IA, US 50613

FINE CLASSICAL SIGNED PAINTING, C. 1890
John Hemmings Fry (American 1860-1946)
A Temple Offering – circa 1890
Oil on canvas
Signed lower right
28 x 15 inches. Overall, including period gilt press molded frame, 39 x 26 inches

John Hemming Fry was a classical painter and a well-known foe of modern art. He was born in Indiana, where he worked on a farm until he was 20 years old. He then studied for four years at the St. Louis School of Fine Arts (where he would later become an instructor) before going to Paris, where he spent three years at the Academie Julian under Boulanger, Lefebvre, and Cormon. A prolific artist, Mr. Fry chose his subjects largely from the classics of poetry and mythology. His two entries for the Paris Salon of 1931 were entitled "Thetis" and "Ode to Sappho," the latter receiving honorable mention. Two years later, he was elected a corresponding member of the fine arts section of the French Institute. A collection of color reproductions of Mr. Fry's paintings, with text by Lilian Whiting, was published in 1927 as "Greek Myths and Other Symbols." His writings include "L'Evangile de la Laideur" (in French) and "The Revolt Against Beauty," in English and French. Mr. Fry was an officer of the Legion of Honor and a Commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy. The latter decoration was awarded to him in April 1933, on the recommendation of Mussolini, in recognition of Mr. Fry's aid in advancing the excavations at Herculaneum. In 1891, Fry married Georgia Timken, daughter of Henry Timken, a St. Louis carriage manufacturer who, with his sons, developed the Timken Roller Bearing Company. Mrs. Fry died in 1921, leaving him an estate worth $10,000,000.

Provenance:
The lifetime estate collection of the late Dr. Boris Frid (1930-2017) and Dr. Germaine Frid (1932-2025) Palm Springs, California. See introduction to catalog.

  • Condition: Important Notice: The absence of condition information in the description does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition, a condition report is available by request.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $200
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 + $1,000