Night in Bologna

Paul Cadmus, Night in Bologna, 1958, egg tempera on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation, 1986.6.87
Paul Cadmus, Night in Bologna, 1958, egg tempera on fiberboard, 50 3⁄4 x 35 in. (129.0 x 89.0 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation, 1986.6.87

Artwork Details

Title
Night in Bologna
Artist
Date
1958
Location
Dimensions
50 3⁄4 x 35 in. (129.0 x 89.0 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation
Mediums
Mediums Description
egg tempera on fiberboard
Classifications
Subjects
  • Cityscape — Italy — Bologna
  • Dress — uniform — military uniform
  • Occupation — military — soldier
  • Architecture Exterior — detail — column
  • Figure group
  • Cityscape — time — night
Object Number
1986.6.87
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1986.6.87

Artwork Description

Night in Bologna is a provocative scene. A traveler with a suitcase seated at a café table observes a soldier in uniform, who looks toward a strolling woman. Each is bathed in a different color of light: the soldier in red for lust, the woman in yellow for greed, and the tourist in green for envy.


Modern American Realism: The Sara Roby Foundation Collection, 2014

Works by this artist (240 items)

View all artworks
Paul Cadmus, Night in Bologna, 1958, egg tempera on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation, 1986.6.87
Night in Bologna
Artist
Date1958
egg tempera on fiberboard
On view
Paul Cadmus, Aspects of Suburban Life: Golf, 1936, oil and tempera on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the U.S. Department of State, 1978.76.1
Aspects of Suburban Life: Golf
Artist
Date1936
oil and tempera on fiberboard
On view
Jared French, Margaret French, PaJaMa, Paul Cadmus, PaJaMa (Box A), ca. 1937, gelatin silver prints, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Margaret French, 1999.98.5.16
PaJaMa (Box A)
Artist
Dateca. 1937
gelatin silver prints
Not on view
Jared French, Margaret French, PaJaMa, Paul Cadmus, PaJaMa (Box A), ca. 1937, gelatin silver prints, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Margaret French, 1999.98.5.15
PaJaMa (Box A)
Artist
Dateca. 1937
gelatin silver prints
Not on view

Exhibitions

Media - 1986.6.100 - SAAM-1986.6.100_2 - 135134
Modern American Realism: Highlights from the Sara Roby Foundation Collection
Smithsonian American Art Museum
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.
Media - 1967.129 - SAAM-1967.129_1 - 65164
Artist to Artist
October 1, 2021–August 2, 2026
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Artist to Artist features paired artworks, each representing two figures whose trajectories intersected at a creatively crucial moment, whether as student and teacher, professional allies, or friends.

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William H. Johnson, Seated Female Nude With Black Background, ca. 1939-1940, tempera on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.219
Seated Female Nude With Black Background
Artist
Dateca. 1939-1940
tempera on paper
Not on view
William H. Johnson, Standing Female Nude with Red Hair, ca. 1939-1940, tempera on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.186
Standing Female Nude with Red Hair
Artist
Dateca. 1939-1940
tempera on paperboard
Not on view
William H. Johnson, Bearded Man in Yellow Chair, ca. 1939-1940, tempera on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.276
Bearded Man in Yellow Chair
Artist
Dateca. 1939-1940
tempera on paperboard
Not on view
William H. Johnson, Female Nude on Yellow Stool, ca. 1939-1940, tempera on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.184
Female Nude on Yellow Stool
Artist
Dateca. 1939-1940
tempera on paperboard
Not on view