Alice Neel
The Family (John Gruen, Jane Wilson and Julia)

ExpandFavorite

Artist Alice Neel(American, 1900–1984)American, 1900–1984

CultureAmerican

Titles

The Family (John Gruen, Jane Wilson and Julia)

Date1970

PlaceNew York, New York, United States

MediumOil on canvas

Dimensions60 1/4 × 58 in. (153 × 147.3 cm)

Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by the Caroline Wiess Law Accessions Endowment

Object number2011.224

Current Location

The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building

Gallery 203

On view

Explore Further

Department

Modern and Contemporary Art

Object Type

PAINTING

DescriptionAfter years of working in obscurity, Alice Neel emerged in the 1960s and 1970s as one of New York’s most admired portraitists, typically choosing her subjects rather than working on commission. Here, she tellingly captures the family dynamics of her friends— the painter Jane Wilson, the art critic John Gruen, and their daughter, Julia—distilling the sitters’ range of emotions, from boredom to amused engagement. Gruen admired Neel’s psychological penetration, commenting, “She draws out the madman or madwoman in people and depicts them that way; it’s her style.” In turn, Neel jokingly nicknamed the painting “Six Patent Leather Shoes.”
ProvenanceThe artist; The Estate of Alice Neel, New York; purchased by MFAH, 2011.
Exhibition HistoryRobert Miller Gallery, New York.

Tate Modern, London.

"Alice Neel: Painted Truths," The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, March 21–June 13, 2010; Whitechapel Gallery, London, July 8–September 17, 2010; Moderna Museet, Malmö, Sweden, October 10, 2010–January 2, 2011.

"Alice Neel - A Retrospective," Ateneum Art Museum, Helsinki, Finland, June 16–October 9, 2016; Gemeentemuseum, The Hague, November 5, 2016–February 12, 2017; Fondation Vincent van Gogh, Arles, France, March 4–September 17, 2017; Deichtorhallen Hamburg, Germany, October 13, 2017–January 14, 2018.

"Alice Neel: Un regard engagé," Centre Pompidou, Paris, France, October 5, 2022–January 2, 2023; "Alice Neel: Hot Off the Griddle," Barbican Centre, London, United Kingdom, February 16–May 21, 2023; "Alice Neel: Every person is a new universe, August 30–November 26, 2023. (OL.1407)
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Inscribed on verso: L02448 (Tate loan number)

Signed lower left: Neel [underlined] / '70

Printed labels on verso stretcher: See photocopy in Accession file for all marks

Alice Neel / THE FAMILY (John, Gruen, Jane, Wilson & / Julia) 1970 / ... / NEEL-0330 / ROBERT MILLER GALLERY / 41 EAST 57TH STREET NEW YORK 10023

... / Moderna Museet Malmo / Alice Neel / Oct 9 2010 - Jan 2, 2011 / ANL/2010/042

"The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston: Alice Neel Painted Truths / ... / Museum of Fine Arts, Houstln, March 22, 2010 through June 2010 / Whitechapel Gallery, London July 08, 2010 through September 17, 2010, Moderna Museet, Malmo, Sweden: October 10, 2010 through / January 02, 2011 /
Alice Neel, American 1900 - 1984 / The Family (John, Gruen, Jane, Wilson & / Julia) 1970 / ...EX.2010.AN35"

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.