Artvee
  • Browse
    • Abstract
    • Figurative
    • Landscape
    • Illustration
    • Posters
    • Religion
    • Mythology
    • Drawings
    • Still Life
    • Animals
    • Botanical
    • Asian Art
  • Books
  • Artists
  • Explore
    • Topics
    • Culture
    • Movements
  • Highlights
  • Collections
  • Galleries
  • Artvee Pro
Login
Artvee
Menu
Perry Watkins - Case of Philip Lawrence: Sue open backed black dress

Case of Philip Lawrence: Sue open backed black dress (1934-1943)

Perry Watkins (American, 1907-1974 )
Facebook Twitter Pinterest
Favourite
Collect

Standard, 1387 x 1800px JPG, Size: 1.54 MB

Download

Max Size, 3841 x 4985px JPG, Size: 8.69 MB

Download
License: All public domain files can be freely used for personal and commercial projects.
Why is this image in the public domain?
This work was commissioned by the United States federal government as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) program. It is not subject to copyright protection.

Perry Watkins was the first African American set designer on Broadway. He was also a stage painter, makeup and costume artist, producer, and film art director.

Born in Providence, Rhode Island on April 13, 1907, Watkins attended Hope High School where he and a friend hand wrote and decorated a daily newspaper called “The Foolscape.” Awarded a scholarship to study art at the Rhode Island School of Design in 1926, he studied figure drawing under Vincent Bernasconi and still life under Asa G. Randall, the school’s most prominent artists.

Despite having his paintings displayed at the Springfield (Massachusetts) Museum and the Providence Art Club, he struggled financially and worked as a waiter, chauffeur, insurance salesman, reporter, draftsmen, and commercial illustrator. By 1936, unemployed and broke, he applied to the Federal Theatre Project with a sample production, and was quickly employed.

Starting as a stagehand and becoming assistant technical director at Lafayette Theatre in New York City, he began a flurry of work, painting drops, dying costumes, and operating the lighting for several shows.

In 1939 Watkins made a breakthrough, becoming the first black Broadway set designer when he was commissioned by Guthrie McClintock for Mamba’s Daughters.

As a result of the show’s incredible success and a recommendation by Robert Edmond Jones, Watkins was permitted to take the drafting and art exam for admission into the Set Designer’s Union. He passed it easily and became the first African American to be admitted. In 1939 he taught in the Rose McClendon Workshop Theatre and the following year designed the set for the revival of The Big White Fog at Lincoln Theatre in Harlem.

Later in life he ventured into film and television, working on art direction and design for films such as Hercules in New York (1969) which debuted Arnold Schwarzenegger, Come Back, Charleston Blue (1972), the critically acclaimed blaxploitation film Across 110th Street (1972), and Gordon’s War (1973).

Perry Robert Watkins passed away August 14, 1974 in New York City at the age of 66.

In Collection: Federal Theatre Project (View all 1212)

The Merry Widow

The Merry Widow (1934-1943)

Anonymous
Suspension Bridge over Sea, Violet Sky

Suspension Bridge over Sea, Violet Sky (1934-1943)

Anonymous
Created Equal: Sketch no. 1 (Throne with Canopy)

Created Equal: Sketch no. 1 (Throne with Canopy) (1934-1943)

Paul Cadorette (American, 20th Century)
The Little Mermaid: Octopuc blue-green

The Little Mermaid: Octopuc blue-green (1934-1943)

Robert Byrne (American, 19th/20th century)
Pinocchio: Polar Bear

Pinocchio: Polar Bear (1934-1943)

Paul Cadorette (American, 20th Century)
The Merry Wives of Windsor

The Merry Wives of Windsor (1934-1943)

Anonymous
On Top: Designed for Lillian Broderick. White gown with bishop sleeves, and blue scarf

On Top: Designed for Lillian Broderick. White gown with bishop sleeves, and blue scarf (1934-1943)

Emile Stoner (American, 19th/20th century)
A Woman of Destiny

A Woman of Destiny (1934-1943)

Anonymous
It Can’t Happen Here: Act II Scene 2, President’s Office

It Can’t Happen Here: Act II Scene 2, President’s Office (1934-1943)

Tom Adrian Cracraft (American, 1905-1963)
Macbeth

Macbeth (1934-1943)

Anonymous
Tobias and the Angel: Bandit

Tobias and the Angel: Bandit (1934-1943)

Mary Merrill (American, 19th/20th century)
Life and Death of an American: 4 Furniture Men blue jumpsuit with ‘S’ on chest

Life and Death of an American: 4 Furniture Men blue jumpsuit with ‘S’ on chest (1934-1943)

Alex Jones (American, 19th/20th century)
A Christmas Carol: Bob Cratchit

A Christmas Carol: Bob Cratchit (1934-1943)

Buell Fuller (American, 19th/20th century)
Up Pops the Devil

Up Pops the Devil (1934-1943)

Anonymous
Spain Costume

Spain Costume (1934-1943)

Anonymous
View all 1212 Artworks

0 Artworks
Follow
Facebook Twitter Pinterest
Favourite
Collect

Standard, JPG, Size:

Download

Max Size, JPG, Size:

Download
License: All public domain files can be freely used for personal and commercial projects. .
Why is this image in the public domain?
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact us
Artvee.com 2024 All Rights Reserved
We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By browsing this website, you agree to our use of cookies.
More info Accept
  • Sign in
  • Browse
    • Abstract
    • Figurative
    • Landscape
    • Illustration
    • Posters
    • Religion
    • Mythology
    • Drawings
    • Still Life
    • Animals
    • Botanical
    • Asian Art
  • Artists
  • Books
  • Explore
    • Topics
    • Culture
    • Movements
  • Highlights
  • Collections
  • Galleries
  • Artvee Pro