Max Beckmann: Bildnis Morton D. May [Portrait of Morton D. May], painting (1949)
Max Beckmann: Bildnis Morton D. May [Portrait of Morton D. May], painting (1949)
Es ist die Wiedergabe einer emotional verwirrten Person, was auch mein Zustand damals war.
[It is the depiction of an emotionally confused person, which was also my state at that time. (ed. trans.)]
Morton M. May interview in the New York Times 17 January 1970
Morton D. May became aware of Max Beckmann at an exhibition of the artist's work in the Buchholz Gallery in New York; the same year he acquired his first painting by the artist and in subsequent years systematically built the biggest collection of Beckmann paintings, including such early works as Untergang der Titanic [The Sinking of the Titanic] from the year 1912. As the owner of a chain of department stores, he had the wherewithal to do so, but it also required a special eye for Beckmann's art. He collected works not only by Beckmann but also his German contemporaries, as well as so-called primitive art. “In a period dominated by Francophile taste and formal aesthetics, he assembled one of the finest and most diverse collections of primitive art in the country and the single most important group of German Expressionist paintings to be found in any collection, public or private.” He stated his intention succinctly: “I am only interested in buying very important examples of Max Beckmann’s work.”
His collection, which he bequeathed to the Saint Louis Art Museum and which now holds the largest collection of Beckmann works, includes the portrait of 1949, which was completed after several studies. Beckmann's journal contains some related notes: “Big May day, lunch in his realm. It's all shaping up nicely and he's coming to the studio on Monday for drawing.” (25 March 1949) The painting shows the hands of the 35 year-old subject, and particularly his right hand, in a notably awkward gesture in front of his chest. His countenance is marked by a laboured brow, an apprehensive look and an equally uncertain turn of the mouth, which are connected to the hand gestures. Due to an illness, Morton D. May could barely move his right hand.
A friendly relationship soon developed between the artist and his client and the Beckmanns were guests at May's home numerous times.
Gallery
