John Flannagan (sculptor)
Encyclopedia
John Bernard Flannagan (1895–1942) American sculptor best known as being one of the first, along with Robert Laurent
and William Zorach
, direct carvers (also known as taille directe) in the United States.
, on April 7, 1895, Flannagan's father died when he was only 5 years old and his mother, unable to support her family placed him in an orphanage. "Unrelenting poverty . . . was to plague him for the rest of his life."
, where he studied painting. When the United States entered World War I
in 1917 Flannagan quit school and joined the Merchant Marines, where he stayed until 1922 After his return to America he was hired by painter Arthur B. Davies
to work on Davies' farm. There Davis encouraged the young man to return to painting, which he did, also taking up wood carving. A year later, in 1922, Flannagan appeared in his first exhibition, along with Davis, Walt Kuhn
, Charles Sheeler
, William Glackens
, and Charles and Maurice Prendergast
t. In 1927 Flannagan gave up painting and wood carving to concentrate on stone carving and in 1928 he producing some of the first American direct carved stone sculptures of note, two works entitled "Pelican" and " ."
A mental breakdown and seven month incarceration in a mental institution, followed by a divorce did not lessen Flannagan's resolve to produce as much quality sculpture as was possible, but, in 1939, after being struck by a car and sustaining a severe closed head injury
it became increasing difficult for him to function.
Robert Laurent
Robert Laurent was an American sculptor, known for his sensitive interpretations of the human form.Laurent was born in Concarneau, Brittany France. There, at the age of 12 his artistic talents were recognized by art connoisseur Hamilton Easter Field who then brought him to the United States...
and William Zorach
William Zorach
William Zorach was a Lithuanian-born American sculptor, painter, printmaker, and writer. He won the Logan Medal of the arts.-Life and career:...
, direct carvers (also known as taille directe) in the United States.
Early years
Born in Fargo, North DakotaFargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
, on April 7, 1895, Flannagan's father died when he was only 5 years old and his mother, unable to support her family placed him in an orphanage. "Unrelenting poverty . . . was to plague him for the rest of his life."
Education
As a youth he was recognized as possessing artistic talents and in 1914 he attended the Minneapolis School of Art, now the Minneapolis College of Art and DesignMinneapolis College of Art and Design
Minneapolis College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit four-year and postgraduate college specializing in the visual arts. Located in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, MCAD currently enrolls approximately 1,000 students offering curriculum that includes...
, where he studied painting. When the United States entered World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in 1917 Flannagan quit school and joined the Merchant Marines, where he stayed until 1922 After his return to America he was hired by painter Arthur B. Davies
Arthur B. Davies
Arthur Bowen Davies was an avant-garde American artist and patron.-Biography:He was born in Utica, New York and studied at the Chicago Academy of Design from 1879 to 1882...
to work on Davies' farm. There Davis encouraged the young man to return to painting, which he did, also taking up wood carving. A year later, in 1922, Flannagan appeared in his first exhibition, along with Davis, Walt Kuhn
Walt Kuhn
Walt Kuhn was an American painter and was an organizer of the modern art Armory Show of 1913, which was the first of its genre in America.-Biography:Kuhn was born in Brooklyn, New York City...
, Charles Sheeler
Charles Sheeler
Charles Rettew Sheeler, Jr. was an American artist. He is recognized as one of the founders of American modernism and one of the master photographers of the 20th century.-Early life and career:...
, William Glackens
William Glackens
William James Glackens was an American realist painter.Glackens studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and later moved to New York City, where he co-founded what came to be called the Ashcan School art movement...
, and Charles and Maurice Prendergast
Maurice Prendergast
Maurice Brazil Prendergast was an American Post-Impressionist artist who worked in oil, watercolor, and monotype...
t. In 1927 Flannagan gave up painting and wood carving to concentrate on stone carving and in 1928 he producing some of the first American direct carved stone sculptures of note, two works entitled "Pelican" and " ."
Mature years
The years between 1930 and 1933 found Flannagan, now married, in Ireland. There he mastered the technique of carving stones that he scavenged from the Irish countryside into sculptures, typically small animals. He felt that "there exists an image within every rock" and that his "aim is to produce a sculpture that hardly feels carved, but rather to have always been that way."A mental breakdown and seven month incarceration in a mental institution, followed by a divorce did not lessen Flannagan's resolve to produce as much quality sculpture as was possible, but, in 1939, after being struck by a car and sustaining a severe closed head injury
Closed head injury
Closed head injuries are a type of Traumatic Brain Injury in which the skull and dura mater remain intact. Closed head injuries are the leading cause of death in children under 4 years old and the most common cause of physical disability and cognitive impairment in young people...
it became increasing difficult for him to function.