Agnes Bernice Martin

Art Brokerage Agnes Bernice Martin Canadian-American Artist: b. 1912-2004 - The following, submitted August 2003, is courtesy of Larry Greenly, Albuquerque, New Mexico. He describes a painting by Martin, which is "perhaps the only surviving nude by Martin. The painting was completed in 1947 during her tenure as a teacher at the University of New Mexico (Albuquerque, NM). The owner, Daphne Vaughn (still living), was attending UNM when she met Martin. They became close friends and lived together in southwest Albuquerque in a small, adobe house, which was still standing as of a few years ago. Martin gave the nude and several other paintings to Vaughn in 1949, including a watercolor landscape, an encaustic on canvas portrait of Vaughn (not signed), and two small abstract paintings (not signed). The nude model for the 1947 painting was Barbara Pullens, a professional model and friend of both Martin and Vaughn. According to Vaughn, Pullens was "part Scottish and part Blackfoot." Vaughn recollects many interesting anecdotes, has a collection of photographs from this era, and continues to correspond with Martin. She has no recollection of Martin painting any other nudes during 1947-49. Listings wanted by Art Brokerage.