Provenance

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen M. Kellen

Kellen, Stephen M. and Anna-Maria

he: 1914 - 2004

Explore selected works

Two creamy-white, long-haired dogs facing our right in a snowy field fill this horizontal painting. The scene is painted with visible, textured strokes in shades of white and ice blue. The dogs have floppy ears and long muzzles. They both stand with heads lowered, focused on something out of view to the right. Their coats are painted with strokes of parchment and ivory white with shading in arctic and sky blue. Their bodies cast blue shadows on the snow beneath them, and dried, flax-yellow twigs angled to our left poke out from the ground around them. The artist signed the painting near the lower right corner, “F Marc.”
Franz Marc, Siberian Dogs in the Snow, 1909/1910, oil on canvas, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen M. Kellen, 1983.97.1

Siberian Dogs in the Snow

Franz Marc · 1909/1910 · oil on canvas ·  Accession ID  1983.97.1

This painting features an abstract composition of geometric shapes and lines on a vertically divided background. The left side is teal and the right side is pink, and both are slight gradients, fading to pale yellow. On the left, overlapping circles in various sizes and shades of brown, green, and blue create a cluster near the top left corner. Below is a grid of rectangles. A thick, black vertical stripe slices through the center, separating the teal and pink sections. On the right, a 3D abstract polygon resembling a faceted gem floats near the top, made of teal, purple, and dark red faces. Below is an inverted triangular shape with three black curved lines.
Wassily Kandinsky, Geteilt (Divided), 1928, watercolor and ink on wove paper on Kandinsky's original black paper mount, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen M. Kellen, 1999.51.1

Geteilt (Divided)

Wassily Kandinsky · 1928 · watercolor and ink on wove paper on Kandinsky's original black paper mount ·  Accession ID  1999.51.1

The image depicts a close-up illustration of a man's face, focusing on his head and part of his shoulders. The man's head is turned slightly to the side, showcasing his strong, prominent nose, expressive eyes, high cheekbones, and relaxed mouth. He has a full beard, mustache, and slightly curly hair peeking from under his cap. The man is wearing a simple cap and a hint of a shirt collar is visible around his neck. The background is a plain, light surface with subtle stains.
Heinrich Aldegrever, Portrait of a Bearded Man with a Beret, c. 1540, colored chalks on laid paper; laid down, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen M. Kellen, in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art, 1991.12.1

Portrait of a Bearded Man with a Beret

Heinrich Aldegrever · c. 1540 · colored chalks on laid paper; laid down ·  Accession ID  1991.12.1

Bibliography

2004

  • "Stephen Max Kellen, 89, Banker and Philanthropist," The New York Times, 14 February 2004:A14 [obituary]