A wonderful impasto still life of a bare root yucca plant, painted in oil on masonite with a palette knife, by emerging artist John Baggett in the early 1960s. Rendered in cool soothing tones of blue and green, accented with small hints of red and yellow. In its original vintage frame and signed en verso by the artist. Size—sight: 30" × 24"; frame: 34" × 28" × 2".

JOHN BAGGETT received an MFA from the University of Southern California. Very little else is to be discovered about him online, beyond suggestions that he died very young, leaving behind a small sample of signed work—and that his paintings were well received at a 1960 one-man show in Los Angeles. Indications are that he would have had a fine career had he survived.

British-born American painter, printmaker, and well-known critic for the Times, Arthur Millier (1893–1975), reviewed the above-mentioned show:

John Baggett, 25, whose first one-man show opened last week at Galerie Suse Brecher-Parsons, 8669 Sunset Blvd., is not just a “promising“ painter—he's already a good one. . . .Baggett obviously aims to present each visual experience. . .as a whole one. His eyes see things, people, space, colors and textures, but what he paints is transfigured by his delight in them and his feeling that all things partake of each other. . . .His painting is nowhere tentative. He likes strong beautiful colors. . . .And he knows how to put them where they will do the most good. Observed facts are what they should be in painting—a means to poetry. Baggett has learned his craft well at Texas U., and at S.C. where he earned his M.F.A last year.

Millier, A. 1960. “Baggett Show Displays More Than Promising Skill.“ Los Angeles Times. May 29.

DETAILS

Artist – JOHN BAGGETT

Period/Year – 1960s

Origin – USA

Styles/Movements – FIGURATIVE; MID-CENTURY MODERN

Media – OIL

Support – MASONITE

Colors – BLUE, BROWN, GRAY, OLIVE

Condition – Excellent vintage condition. May show minor traces of wear consistent with age and use.

Dimensions – 34" H × 28" W × 2" D