ALL: Master Collection List
Nationality
American
Artist Dates
1878-1960
Preview
Date of Work
1909
Medium
Oil on canvas
Signature
Upper left
Height
65"
Width
52"
Collection/Provenance
University Art Collections: Art & Design Study Collection
Status
Stored: 211_W01
Location
UND Art Collections Repository
Artist Bio
Born in Iowa, Ashford grew up in South Dakota before studying art in Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York. In 1907, he moved to Paris, France, where he painted until the outbreak of World War I. Returning to the United States in 1914, his last years were spent in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Additional Information
Portrait of an old man and a child in old-fashioned clothing.
Ashford's painting, which was executed in Paris, appears to be a literary subject, perhaps related to Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. Prior to 2004, when the painting was removed from public display at UND, it suffered from both careless neglect and intentional abuse while hanging in a public hallway on campus. Still in serious need of restoration, it serves as the UND Art Collections unofficial "poster child" for artworks needing conservation.
Condition
Poor
Condition Notes
In need of restoration.
Rights
Images are provided for educational purposes only and may not be reproduced for commercial use. Images may be protected by artist copyright. A credit line is required to be used for any public non-commercial educational purpose. The credit line must include, “Image courtesy of the University of North Dakota.”