2015 CLF Auction Item: Fraktur Artwork by Sandy Greco

The 2015 Contemporary Longrifle Foundation Fund Raising Auction will take place on Friday, August 14th at 5:00PM in Lexington, Kentucky at the Annual CLA Meeting and Show. The Grand Ball Room - Lexington Convention Center, 400 West Vine Street, Lexington, Kentucky.

Fraktur Artwork by Sandy Greco

The CLF is proud to present for auction this 11 X 14 Fraktur style colored drawing. Fraktur is an art form introduced in America by the Pennsylvania Germans with some of the earliest work being done by the Ephrata Cloister in Lancaster County. The term Fraktur can describe a form of calligraphy, a font type, or generally the colorful floral and figurative drawings and paintings that started as illumination for birth and baptismal certificates and evolved to stand alone illustrations. 

Sandy Greco is a European trained artist. Inspired by her father, who worked in wood and restored painted antique furniture, Sandy studied ceramics and then fine art in Palermo, Italy. Sandy is now married to Tom Greco and lives here in Illinois with their family. Sandy became interested in Frackur Art after visiting her first CLA show in Lexington, Kentucky. The patterns and colors struck a chord with her, reminding her of her father's work and the intricate patterns she had learned in Palermo. Tom was a great supporter in getting her to undertake this traditional art form.

Sandy's creation is in gouache and ink on medium weight watercolor paper with an antiqued finish. The framed work is 17 x 14 inches. The work includes distlefinks and a tulip and heart shape in the central stem, and delicate floral and leaf work with traditional flowers. The colors used present as the original colors aged by the passage of time, a skill she learned from her father.

Sandy is grateful to the many artists of the CLA who have supported her, especially Lally House who has been a mentor. Fraktur work by Sandy Greco is regularly seen on the CLA for sale site and does not stay up long.

This is a lovely piece for your home.

Sandy Greco's contact information is:

Flintlock 52@yahoo.com
773-744-5401

Copy supplied by the CLF with copy by Heinz Ahlers.

Presentation Drawing

Presentation Drawing attributed to the "Striped Tulip Artist" probably Northhampton County, Pennsylvania, ca 1780

Ink and watercolor on paper, 5 x 2 ½ inches, framed

Copy and photo from Northeast Auctions.

Antique Fraktur

Pennsylvania watercolor on paper fraktur of a distelfink picking her breast and feeding her young in a nest, the nest in a tulip tree arising from a red heart with the date 1794, in red, black, rust, and yellow, 6" x 4". 

Provenance: Flack sale, Pennypacker Auctions.

Estimated: $800 - $1200

Realized Price: $2133

Copy and image from Pook and Pook.

St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Fraktur Painting by Ken Scott

This fraktur painting depicts the event that occurred on February 14th, 1774 in a wooded glen on the edge of the American frontier.

That night, The family of Jacob and Hannah Barnes was killed and their cabin burned during an attack by marauding Indians.

Jacob & Hannah are drawn as they were placed in their coffins by neighbors. The infant, Sarah is shown in the arms of her mother, Hannah, and in the same coffin. Rachel, the older sister, and her two brothers, Thomas & Isaac Isaac are in the smaller coffins shown nearby. Angels are trumpeting their heavenly assent.

Near the large blue  crescent moon, Jacob is shown firing his weapon at the intruders. On the right panel the attackers are shown firing on the settlers as the cabin goes up in flames. 

The painting also includes the following eulogy placed within the  death’s head angle mortise:

Here lies interrd the bodies of

Jacob Barnes Likewise his Beloved

Wife, Hannah. 4 Children. Sarah, the

infant. Daughter Rachel Along with

two Sons Thomas & Isaac.

All departed life February 14th, 1774.

Under this Stone confind doth lie

the Subjects of Death’s tyranny. The

father & Mother who in this close

tomb – sleep with the offspring of their 

loins. Whereby we See deaths cruelty in

Cutting both fruit & tree.Yet, all this

Malice will prove Vain for tree and

fruit Shall Spring again.

Ink & watercolor on old book covers by Ken Scott.

Copy with photos of painting by Ken Scott and Jan Riser.