In Poetic Silence

The show “In Poetic Silence” set to open in the Temporary Gallery July 2011 is named from the book title on the floral still life paintings of Joseph Henry Sharp. The artist who is best known for his renditions of the American Indian had kept a Secret - he painted more still life paintings than any historical artist who had painted in the West. The book written by Thomas Minckler reveals the story behind this little known facet of Sharp.

Sharp’s original sales book records his earliest known tabletop still life in the year 1908; Sharp sold this painting to the dynamic Montana sheep entrepreneur, Charles M. Bair. In 1907 Bair sent the Sharps a bushel of apples for Christmas. The gift inspired Sharp to paint two renditions of these luscious red apples. Bair purchased both paintings and gave one version to the Crow agent Samuel Guilford Reynolds and kept the other for himself. The two paintings are precursors to Sharp’s later floral tabletop paintings, particularly in composition.

The two apple paintings initially purchased from Joseph Henry Sharp by Charles Bair in 1908 will be included in a special exhibit entitled “In Poetic Silence,” opening July 1st at the Bair Museum. This will mark the first time in 103 years that these two paintings have been reunited and displayed anywhere.

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