Newton Reeve Howard (American/New Orleans)

Newton Reeve Howard (American/New Orleans, 1912-1984) , "The Palm Tree", 1976, oil on canvas board, signed and dated lower left, titled on frame, 16 in. x 12 in., framed. Note: Newton Reeve Howard was a New Orleans painter known for his serene landscapes of the marshes and bayous of South Louisiana. An avid duck hunter, fisherman and naturalist, Howard’s paintings evoke the calm solitude he found during countless hours of paddling through the marshes near Lafitte, Avery Island and in many other swampy settings of the region. Often recognized by New Orleans residents as the architect of Monkey Hill, a beloved city landmark located in the Audubon Zoo, Howard graduated from the Tulane University School of Architecture and was subsequently employed by the Federal Works Progress Administration to oversee improvements to the zoo during the Depression. After having difficulty finding work as an architect, Howard decided to embrace his lifelong love of painting and drawing and studied at the Chicago Institute of Art. When he returned to New Orleans, he joined Fitzgerald Advertising, where he served as the agency’s art director and designed regional and national campaigns for companies including Brown’s Dairy and Tabasco. The painting offered here speaks to Howard’s background in architecture and graphic design with a strong composition highlighting the natural elements of a single palm tree against an aging brick wall. The artist’s minimalist style and sense of quiet reflection is perfectly transposed onto this carefully chosen glimpse of city life.
Ref.: Rolman-Smith, Polly, Guest Curator, “Newton Howard: Painter of the Sportsman’s Paradise”, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, Sept. 6, 2018 to Jan. 13, 2019.