code_for_insertion.rtf Haitian Art by Robert St. Brice

Highland Park • Pittsburgh, PA 15206 • 1-412-661-1498
macondo@telerama.com

SINCE 1974
This is Room 73. Haitian Art by Robert St. Brice

St. Brice was born in Petionville, Haiti in the 1890's and was raised by a prominent Episcopalian, Maitre Turnbull, but eventually became a voodoo priest. He did not begin to paint until he was over 50 years old when an American painter, Alex Johnes, or John, introduced him to the work of the French Impressionists. St. Brice joined the Centre d'Art in 1949. He was illiterate for his entire life and the legendary dealer Issa el Saieh talked of spending hours teaching St. Brice how to sign his name on his paintings. Jean-Marie Drot, the Haitian art historian, places St. Brice second only to the legendary Hyppolite in the pantheon of Haitian artists who received their inspiration directly from the vodou spirits. St. Brice received his ideas while dreaming. He was an original. Drot decribes him as a stylish man who wore red scarves, a favored accessory of the houngan, had a beautiful smile and voice and was friendly and sociable. His work is prized. He died in 1973.

The paintings below have a good story with them, which is below


THE WEB SITE THAT I ESTABLISHED FOR A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
AFTER THE JANUARY 12, 2010 EARTHQUAKE
WAS BASED ON A RELATIONSHIP WHICH HAD ITS ORIGINS IN HAITI IN 1972 WHEN I STAYED AT THE HABITATION
LE CLERC. A MAN NOW I KNOW TO HAVE BEEN ROBERT ST. BRICE WAS IN THE DINING ROOM. ALL REJECED HIM
AND I CALLED HIM OVER AND SAID WHAT DO YOU HAVE. HE SAID I HAVE FIVE PAINTINGS. I SAID I HAVE $500.00
HE TOOK THE MONEY AND GAVE ME THE PAINTINGS. I RETURNED TO NEW YORK CITY AND HAD THEM FRAMED
AT THE TCHERNOV GALLERY ON WEST 57TH STREET. THEY HUNG IN MY APARTMENT UNTIL 2008 A PERIOD OF
36 YEARS.

SOMEONE THEN SAID THAT THERE WAS A CARIBBEAN ART SHOW AND DIDN'T I HAVE SOMETHING FROM HAITI.
THUS I TOOK TWO TO A GALLERY. THE OWNER SAID DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TREASURES. ST. BRICE PASSED
IN 1973. I AM SENDING YOU THE IMAGES OF THREE OF HIS PAINTINGS FROM MY NEW YORK APARTMENT. ALONG
WITH THEM I AM SENDING THE PAGE FROM ART OFF THE MAIN TRADE SHOW OF OCT3-5 2008. SOTHEBYS AND
CHRISTIES CONFIRMED THEY ARE NOT ANYMORE SELLING HAITIAN ART. I OFFERED THE ART THROUGH AN ARTICLE
I FOUND IN CARIBBEAN LIFE READING FOUR NEWSPAPERS DAILY. THAT ORGANIZATION AGREED TO ACCEPT MY
OFFERE FIVE MONTHS PRIOR TO THE EARTHQUAKE OF JANUARY, 2010 FOR HAITIAN CHARITIES

WILLIAM (original owner)

#3046 Robert St. Brice
24x24 oil on masonite
"Loa with Flowers" ca 1970's
$8500 framed as shown


 

#3044 Robert St. Brice
30x20"oil on canvas
1970's $10,000

 

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#3043 Robert St. Brice
30x24 Oil on canvas
1970's
$10,000 framed as shown

#3045 Robert St. Brice
24x24" Oil on masonte
1972
$8500 framed as shown
To view the St. Brice Archive room, a painting that is no longer for sale. click here