Billy Sunday

Billy Sunday

Item Information

Title:
Billy Sunday
Description:
I like to paint Billy Sunday, not because I like him, but because I want to show the world what I do think of him. Do you know, I believe Billy Sunday is the worst thing that ever happened to America? He is Prussianism personified. His whole purpose is to force authority against beauty. He is against freedom, he wants a religious autocracy, he is such a reactionary that he makes me an anarchist. -GB, in "Touchstone," p. 270. The artist's intent to satirize Billy Sunday was evident to almost everyone but the evangelist himself. An earlier depiction of Billy Sunday in action is seen in "The Sawdust Trail" (M. 48) done in 1917. (Mason)
Artist:
Bellows, George, 1882-1925
Name on Item:
Geo Bellows
Date:
[ca. 1915–1923]
Format:
Drawings/Illustrations
Genre:
Crayon drawings
Ink drawings
Location:
Boston Public Library
Arts Department
Collection (local):
George Bellows (1882-1925). Prints and Drawings
Subjects:
Evangelists
Preaching
Sunday, Billy, 1862-1935
Extent:
1 drawing : crayon, ink, and wash on paper ; sheet 38 x 73 cm
Permalink:
https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/7d279v43r
Terms of Use:
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
Notes:
Title from material accompanying item.
Study for the lithograph of the same title (Mason: M. 143; Bellows: B. 111).
Additional information accompanying item: Signed in lower right corner. Print in reverse.
Notes (acquisition):
Sold by H.V. Allison Galleries to Albert H. Wiggin, June 1943. Gifted to the Boston Public Library.
Notes (date):
Date supplied by cataloger based on date of corresponding prints.
Notes (citation):
Mason, Lauris. "The lithographs of George Bellows : a catalogue raisonné." KTO Press, 1977, Millwood, N.Y.
Bellows, Emma. "George W. Bellows : his lithographs." A. A. Knopf, 1927, New York.
Accession #:
1943.1.6
Identifier:
06_05_000009
Barcode:
36666003814577