Faulkner 142 web2

Soretsky’s lengthy review included a photo of Faulkner dancing Photo: © unknown / Paul and Cindy Olsen Faulkner in his personal quarters preparing for a formal affair
with Alice and ended with an exalting conclusion: “Henry Photo: © unknown / Paul and Cindy Olsen
Faulkner is basically not classifiable. On the tree, which might keep the utilities paid, the mail gathered, gallery requests
represent the history of art, there are perched some birds of answered, patron calls returned, and generally look after Faulkner’s
paradise. Chagall is one; Faulkner is another.”17 financial affairs while he was on his European sabbatical.

Ten years after he placed a single piece of art at the co-op With his Lexington life left in responsible hands, Faulkner
gallery Collectors of American Art, Faulkner’s professional directed himself to Florida to take care of matters there regarding
career had risen in ways only he could have imagined. Yet, a his Key West winter home and to say goodbye. He was eager to
void remained. His journal entries and letters to friends indicate tell Alice DeLamar and Mary Benson of Worth Avenue Gallery
his wish for another trip abroad in hopes that he could refresh about what lay on the horizon and to share his excitement with
his creativity and artistic spirit. Thus he began making more other supporting galleries that, of course, wanted more work.
concrete plans to return to Italy. In April 1969, after a brief Before venturing back to Italy, Faulkner spent the summer of
visit to Key West, he returned to Lexington and sold his small 1969 painting, planning, and partying in Key West. He reunited
house on Arlington Avenue. In the true spirit of patronage, with his friends whom he most admired, James Herlihy and
Settle and Broadus offered to rent the downstairs of his West Tennessee Williams. Herlihy was riding the high tide as the film
Third Street home, helping to keep his mortgage current while version of Midnight Cowboy was proving to be a blockbuster. But
he traveled. And with his assistant, Bob Morgan, assuming the for Williams, the tide of success was ebbing. The Williams house
general caretaking duties of the farm and Lexington house, he on Duncan Street had become a happening scene, besieged with
proceeded. Settle, serving as his manager and art agent, would hangers-on and celebrities, the wild atmosphere attributable
to Williams’ diminishing control over his addictions. Faulkner
Faulkner exhibiting his unbounded, unabashed love of dogs and took joy in entertaining as he tried to humor his inebriated
cats that he extended to all nature, especially animals idol. When Faulkner departed for Genoa on October 19, 1969,
some were happy for his new prospects abroad while others were
probably just glad to see him go.

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 94

95 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

1958 – 1969

Forty paintings, with poems
and journal entries

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 96

Day and Night An April Thunder
are in the fields pastense
Undated: early ’60s Oh where are the April thunders which use to carry
Medium: Casein on paper mounted on board my sorrow yonder . . . yonder . . . yonder?
Size: 13 3/4" x 101/2" Death is indeed like the gentleness of
Frame: 211/16" x 17 1/2" Blossoms in April, and like the lambs of
Unsigned: (authenticated with provenance) A Georgia spring. My Bricks of happiness
Tumble . . . because the wisteria has been
Descriptive title above for reference Too beautiful . . . or just too much!
We are not here . . . We are not there . . .
We are yonder, and the thunder; is
Rolling down upon us and our sorrow.
We are homeless, unless some April
Thunder shall roll against and open,
Some other and more beautiful doorway.
And the very color of insanity will change
This garment of sorrow . . . unless
Clean and purifying April skies . . .
Tomorrow.

Henry Lawrence Faulkner

97 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 98

Two Musicians

Date: 1964
Medium: Casein on board
Size: 13 x3/4” 19 3/4”
Original frame: 167/8” x 23”
Signed: “Faulkner” bottom right of center

Descriptive title above for reference

99 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 100

Floral in Rose Vase

Undated: ’60s
Medium: Oil on board
Size: 291/2” x 191/2”
Original frame: 371/2” x 271/2”
Signed: “Faulkner” bottom right

Descriptive title above for reference

101 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 102

Answer Is a wild grape vine
On which we swing
God drinks . . . we die Like children . . .
And the night of his He is forever doing
Question swells marvelous things
Past pale like planting
Apple moons morning glories on
Which smell like the stars... and
Sepetember . . . In the dropping moons
Pockets of night in lilacian landscapes-
He puts frosted His hobby is algebra
Grapes... Sweet & bitter Of the stars . . .
Foretaste of sorrow Darkness & Death . . .
The night sweet The answer-
Melon of the moon
Tempers our dying Faulkner
And the mind of God

Boy and his Pet

Undated: ’60s
Medium: Casein on board
Size: 177/8” x 13 3/8”
Original frame: 221/4”x 16 3/4”
Signed: “Faulkner” bottom right

Titled by artist Reproduction
Inscription on back of frame:
Boy and his Pet

Boy and his Friend, Mulatto Boy with Rooster

103 N o t f o r

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 104

Mendelssohn – Bette Davis

Undated: ’60s
Medium: Acrylic on board
Size: 23 5/8” x 11 1/4”
Original frame: 271/8” x 14 5/8”
Signed: “Faulkner” top left

Titled by artist

105 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 106

Blue Mannequin in the Street

Undated: ’60s
Medium: Casein on board
Size: 81/2” x 111/2”
Frame: 12 3/4” x 15 5/8”
Signed: “Faulkner” bottom right

Titled by artist

107 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 108

Old Lady I understand . . .
She is talking to the image
She quite naturally comes of loneliness - because its
to the large park silence is so unbearable
Where nature accommodates she is creating all sorts of
her tendencies . . . nice good people to speak
Oh, she is quite old and very poor to gently, because the worlds big
except for a priceless smile back is turned upon her.
Even in all her hunger And at times when the skies are
and need, she has managed to retain very blue . . . you may see how
She is one of those gifted ones surely once - her eyes were
who in spite of her poverty, also blue - but now like a
has managed to keep day light dress that has endured too many
in her eyes. summers - . . . Those eyes have
And in her walk of pitiful jerky faded & yet because of how
movement for certain pace & they see things in spite
then suddenly stops as tho of time & perhaps god
the world ended there - and there is something of a
then with serious effort child in them yet.
starts off again.
She mumbles and tho I cannot Faulkner
hear what she says . . .

New Orleans Woman

Undated: ’60s
Medium: Casein on board
Size: 19 7/8” x 111/8”
Original frame: 27 7/8” x 191/8”
Signed: “Faulkner” bottom right

Titled by artist; three-dimensional leather leaves with twigs and
berries varnished and attached to the exterior of 4"-wide frame

109 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 110

Cat and his Pet

Date: 1964
Medium: Casein on board
Size: 23” x 17 7/8”
Original frame: 27”x 22”
Signed: “Faulkner” bottom left

Titled by artist; originally acquired from Artists Associates
Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia, December 14, 1964

111 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 112

Praying Angel Play gently God

Date: 1964 His golden rings are shining
Medium: Casein on board And the sweetbread of his smile
Size: 115/16” x 91/8” Is Orpheus tilling lilac sorrow
Original frame: 147/8”x 127/8” please be good . . .
Signed: “Faulkner” right middle in the trees of heaven
play gently God
Titled by artist and give us more sweet birds
to carry our sorrow . . .
Oh Mr. shame . . . Oh my bright star
Oh Mr. sweet forever
Hold your handkerchief
In dampness tears . . .
It is only the violets blooming
In that Barrymore midnite
It is not he weeping . . .
Just a sprinkle of color
From the chandelier of his mind
Oh praise him gently
or once I heard an angel singing
it is just another prism
from the chandelier of God --

Henry Faulkner

113 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

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Blessing of the Horse at the Palio di Siena

Undated: early ’60s
Medium: Casein and oil on board
Size: 14” x 177/8”
Original frame: 251/8” x 271/2”
Signed: "Faulkner" bottom right

Titled by artist; horse blessing ceremony in a Contrada church,
a ritual of the Palio di Siena horse race in Italy

115 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 116

Vase on Chair

Undated: ’60s
Medium: Oil on board
Size: 35”x 28”
Original frame: 371/2”x 301/2”
Signed: “Faulkner” bottom right

Descriptive title above for reference

117 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 118

“Praising Leaves”

The praising leaves
Are dancing with joy,
Chattering about
the great cool rain.

Taormina Houses and Garden

Undated: ’60s
Medium: Oil on board
Size: 28” x 21”
Original frame: 30 3/4” x 23 3/4”
Signed: “Faulkner” top right

Descriptive title above for reference

119 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 120

Harlequin, Sicilian

Undated: mid-’60s
Medium: Casein on board
Size: 25” x 19 3/4”
Original frame: 32” x 26 3/4”
Signed: “Faulkner” bottom left

Titled by artist; signature incorporated
diagonally on megaphone

121 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 122

Floral in Eagle Vase

Undated: mid-’60s
Medium: Oil on board
Size: 39 3/8” x 301/8”
Original frame: 467/8”x 36 7/8”
Signed: “Faulkner” bottom left

Descriptive title above for reference

123 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 124

Runnymede

Date: 1964
Medium: Oil on board
Size: 14” x 20”
Original frame: 231/2”x 291/2”
Signed: “Faulkner 64” bottom right with "Clay" below

Descriptive title above for reference; painted for the Clay family of
Runnymede Farm, Kentucky's oldest Thoroughbred breeding farm

125 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 126

Lime & High – Jefferson Davis Inn

Date: 1964
Medium: Casein on board
Size: 141/8” x 191/2”
Original frame: 18 3/4”x 24”
Signed: “Faulkner” bottom right, with “For Settle” bottom left

Titled by artist; painting of Jefferson Davis Inn, located on West High
and Limestone streets, Lexington, Kentucky

127 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 128

The green day flushes its roses
as I lay sleeping in the golden
rocks of longing.
I hear roses blooming in eternity,
I shed my sorrow as the rose, its petals.
I bathe in suns of labyrinth recollections
of changeless deities of the children of grief.
Oh the house of hell burns hot
in the staggering oracle of sky.
I am the tree of happiness
in a woe-begone world.

Yellow Roses

Date: 1965
Medium: Casein on board
Size: 22” x 13”
Original frame: 261/2” x 17 3/8”
Signed: “Faulkner” top left

Titled by artist; signed three times: first signature top left hidden
by curved frame; new signature painted top left; third signature
“Faulkner 65” faint and partially hidden bottom right

129 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 130

Bluegrass

Date: 1965
Medium: Oil on board
Size: 10” x 113/4”
Original frame: 217/8” x 24”
Signed: “Faulkner” bottom right

Titled by artist

131 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 132

Divided Cityscape - Portugal Apple Trees

Date: 1965 O, buds yielding to the sun's warm gentleness
Medium: Acrylic on board O, apple tree, how you must grow full fruit
Size: 17 7/8” x 16” To the whole meaning of you.
Original frame: 29” x 271/8” There you bloom in a robe of snow.
Signed: “Faulkner” right middle How you must take from flowers and rain
All that will make you wholesome and sweet.
Titled by artist A great joy comes at the time of your bearing
when your full ripe flesh has gathered
Round the core complete.
When your juices mingle with those
In my mouth,
That's like a kiss from God!!
Time was great,
When evening airs came to me,
All smelling of your blossoms.
But the greatest time of all
Is the time when your flesh joins mine
In that sweetness that makes my blood.
Oh see these red apples?
They hold whole summers of gathered sweetness.

133 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 134

Small Iroquois Club Horseman

Date: 1965
Medium: Gouache on board
Size: 6 x3/4” 4 9/16”
Original frame: 9 3/16” x 7 1/32”
Signed: “Faulkner” bottom left

Titled by artist; the Iroquois Hunt Club is a foxhunting club in the Bluegrass
of Kentucky, sold by R&R Robinson Gallery, Naples, Florida, April 27, 1965

135 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 136

Springtime in Venice

Undated: mid-’60s
Medium: Oil on board
Size: 17 3/8” x 10 3/8”
Original frame: 22 3/8” x 15 3/8”
Signed: “Faulkner” bottom left

Titled by artist; inside wooden mat lightly adorned by
the artist; exterior frame with Florentine pattern

137 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 138

Birds at Fountain

Date: mid-’60s
Medium: Casein and oil on board
Size: 8” x 10”
Original frame: 12” x 14”
Signed: “Faulkner” bottom left

Descriptive title above for reference; frame adorned
by the artist in country blue with vine and berries

139 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 140

Venetian Canal Scene

Date: 1966
Medium: Oil on board
Size: 8 3/4” x 13.3/4””
Original frame: 14.1/8” x 19.1/4”
Signed: “Faulkner 66” bottom right

Descriptive title above for reference

141 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n

a l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d 142

Horses After Miro/Chagall

Date: mid-’60s
Medium: Oil on board
Size: 4” x 6”
Original frame: 11” x 13”
Signed: “Faulkner” bottom left

Titled by artist

143 N o t f o r R e p r o d u c t i o n