Johnson, Dorothy (California)
Early - Mid 20th Century
Newport, watercolor, signed/dated '54 l/r,
14.25" x 19.5" sight, 23"
x 27" frame.
About the Painting: Very good condition.
About the Artist: This artist may be Dorothy May Johnson Wruck.
Born in California on May 14, 1914. Dorothy
was the wife of Edwin Wruck. She lived in
Morongo Valley near Palm Springs from the
1930s until her death on Feb. 13, 1971. Source: Edan Hughes, "Artists in California, 1786-1940"
and Record of Death.
Another artist could possibly be the painter
of our watercolor, however. Dorothy Johnson
Duncan was born in Sausalito, CA on Oct.
2, 1895. She studied at UC Berkeley, Spencer
Macky's School, and CSFA. At the latter she
met Charles S. Duncan whom she wed in 1920.
Mrs. Duncan died in her native city on Nov.
26, 1980. Exh: SF Artists, City of Paris
Gallery, 1924; SFAA, 1930-38 (prizes); SF
Women Artists, 1931-35 (prizes); SFMA, 1935;
GGIE, 1939; Foundation of Western Art, 1941;
CPLH, 1946. She has work in the San Diego
Museum and SFMA. Source: Edan Hughes, "Artists in California, 1786-1940," Who's
Who in American Art 1940-53; California Arts
and Architecture list, 1932; Ferdinand Perret Files.
Another Dorothy May Johnson was born in Chicago and educated at the
University of Chicago and the Art Institute
of Chicago. This artist, born in 1912, exhibited
at the Art Institute in 1937 (prize), 1938
and 1941. She taught at Herzl Jr. College.
It is assumed that she was the Dorothy Johnson
Bergamo, born 1912 in Chicago, who was closely
associated with the art scene in Texas and
Arizona. Mrs Bergamo attended the University
of Chicago from 1930 to 1934 when she received
the degree of Ph.B. From 1934 to 1938 she
was a student at the Art Institute of Chicago,
where in 1937 she was awarded the Anna Louise
Raymond Fellows Fellowship and in 1938 received
the four-year diploma in the department of
drawing, painting and illustration.
During 1938-1939 she was instructor
in History
of Art at Elmhurst College, Elmhurst,
Ill.,
and from 1938-1943 was Instructor
in Painting
and the History of Art in the
Municipal Junior
College of the City of Chicago.
In 1941,
she received the M.A. degree
from Northwestern
University.
Mrs. Bergamo traveled extensively
in the
United States and in Italy. Her
paintings
have been exhibited at the Art
Institute
of Chicago and in museums throughout
the
country." - from a brochure titled "San Antonio
Art Institute 1943 - 1944."
Note: The inscription "Newport", verso, almost certainly refers to Newport
Beach, California. Available records do not
include images of these artists' work, therefore,
we cannot be certain by whom our watercolor
was painted. Although we will not rule out
Dorothy Johnson Bergamo, it's likely that
our painting was done by one of the California
artists - Dorothy May Johnson Wruck or Dorothy
Johnson Duncan.
$ 245.00
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