Robert Brackman (1898-1980),
Still Life, c.1950, 12 x 16 1/8 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, purchase/gift of the Mahonri M. Young Estate, 1959.
Robert Brackman, an American artist of Ukrainian heritage, was born on this day in 1898. His primary focus was portrait and still life painting, frequently combining the two to include fruit displays in various portraits. Brackman studied at the National Academy of Design between 1919-1921 and spent many years teaching at the Art Students League of New York. The BYU Museum of Art has two Robert Brackman paintings in the collection, including this piece,
Still Life. Mahonri Young, grandson to Brigham Young, was also closely affiliated with both the National Academy of Design and the Art Students League of New York. It is likely that the two artists came into contact through these prestigious art institutions, although Brackman was about twenty years Young’s junior.