Photography by Edward C. Robison III
Blackwell's Island
In Blackwell’s Island, Edward Hopper explored the intersection of nature and the urban environment at the location on New York’s East River. The painting features a wide expanse of sky above and turbulent cobalt blue water below, bisected by a shadowy skyline of buildings. In the past, Blackwell’s Island (today called Roosevelt Island) had been the site of a prison, mental asylum, and hospital, among other facilities. The island's varied architecture and seclusion appealed to Hopper.
ArtistEdward Hopper(1882-1967)
Date1928
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions44 1/4 x 69 1/4 x 3 in.
Signedl.r.: Edward Hopper
Mark(s)verso, in sleeve attached to backing board, c.l.: BLACKWELL'S ISLAND / EDWARD HOPPER / 3 WASH. SQUARE N / NEW YORK
verso, in sleeve attached to backing board, c.l.: WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART / 045 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y., 10021 / Artist: Edward Hopper / Title: BLACKWELL'S ISLAND / Date: 1928 / Catalogue No 245 / Lender: Mrs. Christopher Tunnard / Exhibition: Edward Hopper Art & Artist / 9/16/80 - 1/18/81
verso, in sleeve attached to backing board, c.l.: [illegible]
verso, in sleeve attached to backing board, c.l.: [illegible] / 107
verso, in sleeve attached to backing board, c.l.: e c / 5022
verso, in sleeve attached to backing board, c.l.: Vassar College Art Gallery / Poughkeepsie, New York, 12601
verso, in sleeve attached to backing board, c: Hirschl & Adler / Galleries, Inc. / 21 East 70th Street, New York, N.Y. 10021 / ARTIST: EDWARD HOPPER / (1882-1967) / NUMBER: APG 13674D / TITLE: BLACKWELL'S ISLAND / MEDIUM: OIL ON CANVAS / SIZE: 25 X 60 inches / DATE: 1928
verso, in sleeve attached to backing board, c: SMITH COLLEGE MUSEUM OF ART / EL 3:91-13 / TR 5435 / HOPPER, Edward / Blackwell's Island / oil on canvas / 35 x 60" / Lent by a Private Collection, via Vassar / College Art Gallery, L82.2, 1991. / NORTHAMPTON MASSACUSETTS / 01063
verso, in sleeve attached to backing board, c: mfa BOSTON / Museum of Fine Arts, Boston / Institute of the Arts / 463 Huntington Avenue / Boston, Massachusetts 03115 / Exhibitions / Catalogue # / [illegible] / [illegible] / Edward Hopper (American, 1812-1967) / Blackwell's Island, 1928 / Oil on canvas / collection of Robert and Solodad Hurst / Art of the Americas / Edward Hopper / 6 May 2007 - 11 May 2008 / 6 May 07 - 19 Aug 07 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston / 16 Sep 07 - 28 Aug 08 National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC / 16 Feb 08 - 11 May 08 The Art Institute of Chicago
verso, in sleeve attached to backing board, c: National Gallery of Art / Washington D.C. / Dex ID. 34 / Exhibit: Edward Hopper / Date: 09/16/07 - 01/21/08 / Artist: Edward Hopper / Title: Blackwell's Island / Lender: Mr. Robert Hurst / Cat No. 61
verso, in sleeve attached to backing board, c: EDWARD HOPPER / MILANO, PALAZZO REALE / 14 OTTOBRE 2009 > 31 GENNAIO 2010 / ROMA, FONDAZIONE ROMAN MUSEO / 16 FEBBRAIO > 13 GUIGNO 2010 / LOSANNA, FONDATION DE L'HERMITAGE / 25 GUIGNO > 17 OTTOBRE 2010 / ARTHEMISIA / group
verso, in sleeve attached to backing board, c: FONDATION DE HERMITAGE / CH - 1000 LAUSANNE 8 / Edward Hopper / Blackwell's Island, 1928 / huile sur toile / Collection Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Hurst / Edward Hopper 25 juin - 17 octobre 2010
verso, in sleeve attached to backing board, c: EAMP / NOP 1 / 5XTRZ / Edward Hopper, Blackwells / Island, oil on
verso, in sleeve attached to backing board, c: m / Edward HOPPER / Paris, Grand Palais / 10 octobre 2012 - 28 janvier 2013 / Collection Soledad et Robert Hurst, Aspend, Colorado / HOPPER Edward / Blackwell's Island, 1928 / Huile sur toile / 149
verso, in sleeve attached to backing board, c: Lance Mayer & Gay Myers, Conservators / at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum / 625 Williams Street / New London, Connecticut 06320 / (860) 443-2618 / Treated in 2001: Allowed wax lining to remain, but / restretched on new stretcher that is keyable both horizontally / and vertically: removed existing varnish: varnished with / MS2A resin with 2% Tinuvin 292 added; inpainted with PVA AYAA and AYAC; / For complete records, see file for lab no. 01.17
verso, in sleeve attached to backing board, c: CHRISTIE'S / TG096/1 / AMP / [barcode]
verso, in sleeve attached to backing board, c: A PC 13674D
Inscription(s)verso, in sleeve attached to backing board, in pencil, c.l.: 6/7
verso, in sleeve attached to backing board, in pen, c: Inu 1142 / Dim 40 x 63
verso, in sleeve attached to backing board, in red ink, c: 27
verso, in sleeve attached to backing board, in pen, c: NAME T / RECEIPT & ITEM NO. / 20265279/01 / PHOTO / 3/8 CBW / DISPOSITION
Credit LineCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2013.27
ClassificationPainting
Provenance(Frank K.M. Rhen Galleries, New York, NY); to William G. Russell Allen, Boston, MA, 1929; to Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Tunnard [1910-1979], New Haven, CT, 1950; Private Collection, 1980; (Sotheby’s, New York, NY), private sale, ca. 2000; to Robert and Soledad Hurst, Aspen, CO; to (Christie’s, New York, NY), May 23, 2013, sale 2707, lot 16; purchased by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR, 2013
On ViewYes
This artwork's face covers about 2.8× the area of a standard movie poster.Drawn to the same scale.