Canticle

Mark Tobey, Canticle, 1954, casein on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation, 1986.6.79
Mark Tobey, Canticle, 1954, casein on paper, sheet: 17 3411 58 in. (45.129.4 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation, 1986.6.79

Artwork Details

Title
Canticle
Artist
Date
1954
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
sheet: 17 3411 58 in. (45.129.4 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation
Mediums
Mediums Description
casein on paper
Classifications
Subjects
  • Abstract
Object Number
1986.6.79

Artwork Description

Abstraction and spirituality are intimately entwined in the delicate works of Mark Tobey, whom, along with Morris Graves, Life magazine described as a mystical painter. Canticle refers to liturgical hymns from the bible. Tobey acknowledged that the abstract harmony of music was an important source of inspiration: “When I play the piano for several hours, everything is clarified in my visual imagination afterwards.” The intricate pattern of delicate marks that animate the surface (critics called it “white writing”) was inspired by the artist’s study of Arabic and Japanese calligraphy.


Modern American Realism: The Sara Roby Foundation Collection, 2014

Works by this artist (16 items)

Mark Tobey, Evocation, 1970, aquatint, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1973.3
Evocation
Date1970
aquatint
Not on view
Mark Tobey, Untitled (Standing Figure), 1965, color lithograph on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1968.83
Untitled (Standing Figure)
Date1965
color lithograph on paper
Not on view
Mark Tobey, Fish Market (Seattle Market Scene Sketch), 1943, gouache on paper mounted on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Robert Tyler Davis, 1978.94.1
Fish Market (Seattle Market Scene Sketch)
Date1943
gouache on paper mounted on paperboard
Not on view
Mark Tobey, (Homage to Tobey, portfolio) The Grand Parade, 1974, color lithograph on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1974.43.2
(Homage to Tobey, portfolio) The Grand Parade
Date1974
color lithograph on paper
Not on view

Exhibitions

Media - 1986.6.100 - SAAM-1986.6.100_2 - 135134
Modern American Realism: Highlights from the Sara Roby Foundation Collection
This exhibition presents some of the most treasured paintings and sculpture from SAAM’s permanent collection, including artworks by Will Barnet, Isabel Bishop, Paul Cadmus, Edward Hopper, Yasuo Kuniyoshi, Jacob Lawrence, George Tooker, among others.

More Artworks from the Collection

Hyman Bloom, The Beggar, 1956, casein on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation, 1986.6.8
The Beggar
Date1956
casein on paper
Not on view
Gertrude Goodrich, Production (mural study, Buchanan, Michigan Post Office), 1941, casein on paperboard mounted on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, 1974.28.94
Production (mural study, Buchanan, Michigan Post Office)
Date1941
casein on paperboard mounted on paperboard
Not on view
Paul Cadmus, Preliminary sketch for Subway Symphony, 1973, pencil, casein, crayon, and chalk on paper mounted on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation, 1986.6.88
Preliminary sketch for Subway Symphony
Date1973
pencil, casein, crayon, and chalk on paper mounted on paperboard
Not on view
Paul Cadmus, Green Still Life, 1954, casein, crayon, and pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation, 1985.30.9
Green Still Life
Date1954
casein, crayon, and pencil on paper
Not on view