The Dedication Copy, Inscribed to Alfred Stieglitz

Adventures in the Arts. Informal Chapters on Painters Vaudeville and Poets. [Introduction by Waldo Frank].

New York: Boni and Liveright, [1921].

Price: $25,000.00


About the item

First edition. xviii, 254 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. The Dedication Copy, Inscribed to Alfred Stieglitz. Publisher's black cloth. Spine gilt lettering dulled, in printed dust-jacket (spine browned, chipping and closed tears to extremities). Laid into a half black morocco slipcase and cloth chemise. Homer, Alfred Stieglitz and the American Avant-Garde.

Item #302362

THE DEDICATION COPY OF HARTLEY'S FIRST BOOK, INSCRIBED BY MARSDEN HARTLEY ON THE DEDICATION PAGE TO ALFRED STIEGLITZ: "My dear Stieglitz, This is the book you saved from the chaos of a grim period. I hope it proved worth the trouble. I marvel that your faith abounds with such vitality. I take courage myself from your example. Devotedly, Marsden Hartley." On the facing page Stieglitz has written the date and location of the inscription in pencil, "April 14 - 1924. 60 E. 65 St."
An association of tremendous importance — Stieglitz was the first established artist or gallery owner to recognize and promote Hartley's talent. He mounted Hartley's first solo show at his 291 gallery in May of 1909 at a time when Hartley was a virtual unknown in the art world. "Poor and lonely, Hartley was moved by Stieglitz's tangible demonstration of faith in him and his art. At 291 he discovered the spiritual home he had long been seeking, and in Stieglitz he found a mentor who genuinely cared about his work and who was willing to nurture his creative development" (Homer, p. 153). Stieglitz would show Hartley's work five more times at 291 as well as at the Anderson Galleries, the Intimate Gallery, and An American Place. He helped finance Hartley's first trip to Europe in 1912; the direct exposure to the European avant-garde was a major impact in the development of Hartley's art. Hartley handed over power of attorney to Stieglitz during his time abroad, and it was Stieglitz who signed the agreement with Boni and Liveright for publication of Adventures in the Arts in 1921.