Samuel Bruce Brown (1905-1997) Oil on Canvas “Nantucket Bay”, stylized view of Easton Street in heavy impasto, signed lower right S. Bruce Brown and twice on reverse in his hand, in shallow box frame. Bruce Brown was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia in 1905. He was African American, living in Washington DC and part of the vibrant Black arts scene there for almost fifty years.  Brown was a member of The Little Paris Group, 1948; the twelve member group, then called “Little Paris”, met once a week with Miles Celine Tabary and Lois Jones, developing skills and styles, circulating in six exhibits a year. The paper attached to the back outlines a page from the Smithsonian archives about the “Little Paris Group” of Black artists in Washington DC.  Included is an image of the members of the group in 1948 that shows Bruce Brown, fifth from the left.  Even more interesting is the inclusion of Lois Maillou Jones and Alma Thomas, two very prominent Black artists from Washington, that were part of the group and likely the head organizers.   Apparently some of the artists were known to summer at Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard.  Possibly, this is how Bruce Brown came to be in Nantucket to paint.

Framed 23.75 in. x 33.75 in.