Justin McCarthy Art. Miss Martine Martin from a Vaudeville Sketch 1921

Justin McCarthy Art. Miss Martine Martin from a Vaudeville Sketch 1921 Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy Untltled (Marilyn Monroe?) Oil on Masonite Board, no date. (Late 1960s?) Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy Untltled (Marilyn Monroe?) Oil on Canvas mounted on paper, no date. (Late 1960s?) Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy Untitled (woman nude) oil on Masonite c. 1955 - 1965 Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy Untitled (woman nude) oil on Masonite c. 1955 - 1965 Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy Untltled (woman nude) Oil on Canvas mounted on paper, no date. ( 1960s?) Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy Untltled Oil on Canvas mounted on paper, no date. ( 1960s?) Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy untitled (Fashion) Oil on board Collection Jim Linderman

In 1960, after decades of trying to be convince others he was an artist with very little luck, a small article in the Pocono Record, a local newspaper announced that McCarthy would be showing his “fashion drawings” at the Stroudsburg Annual Courthouse Outdoor Art show. Indeed, he had been creating works depicting women and fashion since the 1920s.(Thanks to Nancy Green Karlins Thoman’s dissertation on the artist for this information) So many women! This untitled oil qualifies as one of his fashion works, although I have never been quite sure of the gender! Looks like a movie swashbuckler to me. Justin McCarthy untitled (Fashion) oil on board c. 1950 - 1960. Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy Becomes Known

Strauser managed to arrange numerous showings in more professional settings for the artist. One man shows followed. In 1965 the Everhart Museum in Scranton PA mounted a solo show, and the Museum of Art selected four paintings for their touring exhibition “Seventeen Naive Painters” in 1966. There were shows at East Stroudsburg College in 1967 and again in 1972. Most notably the solo show at the Allentown Art Museum in 1985 resulted in the color catalog shown here. From that point on numerous exhibitions, catalogs and books have reproduced his paintings. The artist was in his 70s by this point but demand for his works, especially the large oils, was heavy. None of this seems to have changed McCarthy. He continued his remarkable prolific output. In the late 1970s age took it’s toll, and he “retired” to be near some family in Arizona, where continued painting sporadically until he passed at age 86.

Justin McCarthy Untitled Landscape c. 1950s - 1960s collection Jim Linderman

In 1960, artist Sterling Strauser and his wife Dorothy were strolling a local festival and came upon McCarthy with his paintings strewn on the grass. By this time Justin had been drawing and painting 40 years consistently with virtually no sales or interest. He was living alone in the Weatherly, PA mansion he grew up in and allowed to deteriorate. His run down auto with animals and plants painted on it was nearby. The painting prices were high. Strauser later said McCarthy told him he never sold any so the prices might as well be high. I believe on their second meeting, they convinced Justin to sell three works reasonably priced. He had started painting in oil around this time…bold, colorful expressionistic masterpieces which Sterling couldn’t wait to frame. He shared the work with his many artist friends and began to represent him, becoming his friend, mentor and agent. After 40 yeqrs, the artist was discovered. From this point on, most of McCarthy’s work was oil on board, or the masonite Strauser supplied him. Untitled (landscape) Justin McCarthy c. 1950s to 1960s Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy Group of four Regional Basketball Pencil Drawings late 1950s. Collection Jim Linderman

McCarthy loved sports and was something of a master at depicting motion. He often drew while watching games on TV, and he attended numerous games in person with his sketchbook. He worked fast to capture the players in his many sports themed pieces. Note young marvel Buddy Troutman weighing in at 200 pounds...that's a game I would like to see. Justin McCarthy Four Basketball Drawings in Pencil. c. Late 1950s. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Justin McCarthy "Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford color pencil drawing 1920

An early drawing by self-taught artist Justin McCarthy dated 1920 depicting the first Hollywood power couple Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. McCarthy loved motion pictures and used them a subject matter his entire career. “Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford” Justin McCarthy collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb.

Justin McCarthy Untitled (Lawrence of Arabia?). Watercolor and ink mounted on cardboard

Justin McCarthy Untitled (Lawrence of Arabia?). Watercolor and ink mounted on cardboard, Titled on the reverse (by a gallery, not the artist) “Arab on Camel” McCarthy works are seldom dated and many were not even signed. This appears to be an early work, but the resemblance to the 1962 film “Lawrence of Arabia”is uncanny. Could be this depicts T. E. Lawrence. Justin McCarthy Untitled C. 1930s to 1960s Collection Jim Linderman

Just McCarthy Art "Blond Beauty" c. 1920 Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy "Blond Beauty" Self-Taught American Folk Artist Crayon mounted on wallpaper scraps c. 1920 (Illustrated in the catalog Justin McCarthy Allentown Art Museum 1985. Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy "Woman on the DecK" watercolor circa 1930 Collection Jim Linderman

A cruise ship lounger on deck with a bright red sunburned face. But why would Justin McCarthy sign a painting as by "Rubens" Justin McCarthy suffered what has been called "a major nervous breakdown" from 1917 to 1921 or so, some years of which he was in an institutional setting.This occurred shortly after his well-to-do family left him (as a young man) to wander the Louvre. The story of how he painted himself back to reality has been often told. But the signature? During his recovery McCarthy signed numerous names to his work, but Art scholar Nancy Green Karlins Thoman deserves the credit for revealing some of McCarthy's hand written notes from the time period in her dissertation “Justin McCarthy (1891-1977) The Making of a 20-century Self-Taught Painter.” In a sketchbook from 1919 - 1920 he jotted down his impressions of the great artists noting their characteristics as he remembered them. Among them Van Dyke (sic) Rembrant (sic) and Whistler. And for Rubens? McCarthy wrote “Rubens - red agent, ruby red.” He certainly couldn’t have been intending to copy Rubens with a woman on the deck of a steamer but in his somewhat troubled mind it made sense. To the artist, it was the color red. Years later his friend and patron Sterling Strauser had McCarthy go back and sign many works. Hence, his own signature appears as well! Justin McCarthy Untitled (Woman on a Ship) circa 1920 - 1930? Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCathy "A Gibson Girl from the Follies" c. 1915 - 1920 collection Jim Lindeman

What could be Justin McCarthy’s earliest drawing given to me by Sterling Strauser, his benefactor and friend. It is, of course, a tentative and not very promising start. Justin McCarthy "A Gibson Girl from the Follies" Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb.

Justin McCarthy "Jitney Jessie and the Episode of Bessie the Beautiful Bandit" Watercolor and ink c.1920 - 1925 Collection Jim Linderman

“Jitney Jessie the Episode of Bessie the Beautiful Bandit” by Justin McCarthy c. 1920 - 1925 In a serial format of 13 drawings Justin McCarthy tells the story of Jitney Jessie packing a parachute to foil Bessie the Bold and Beautiful Bandit’s attempt to rob G. Hard Boyle. Jitney Jessie was Hard Boyle’s chauffeur. In these early works, McCarthy apparently used a homemade paste of flour and water to mount them on colored cardboard. Shown is a detail of four drawings and the entire piece. ex-Phyllis Kind. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Justin McCarthy "Barbara Stanwyck in Red Salute" Pen on Paper 1935 collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy “Barbara Stanwyck in Red Salute”. A fine example of McCarthy’s Draftmanship depicting Barbara Stanwyck as Drue van Allen, the spoiled college brat daughter of General van Allen in the film Red Salute. I haven’t seen the film but find no indication she shared the screen with a rabbit, but that’s McCarthy. Justin McCarthy Barbara Stanwyck in Red Salute Pen on Paper 1935 collection Jim Linderman #justinmcCarthy. #justinmccarthyart. #collectionjimlinderman

Justin McCarthy Man with Red Face and Hands. Crayon Drawing c. 1925

Justin McCarthy “Jimmy ?” Indecipherable title crayon work c. 1925 Collection Jim Linderman #justinmcCarthy. #justinmccarthyart. #collectionjimlinderman

Justin McCarthy “Delphiniums” c. 1950 watercolor Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy “Delphiniums” watercolor c. 1950 Signed and titled lower left. Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy multi-panel early drawing. Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy 1891 - 1977 McCarthy’s works in a serial format were created not long after his release from Rittersville State Home for the Insane 1920’s and into the 1930s.The commercial use of the speech balloon was still fairly new at the time. US Newspaper cartoonists began telling stories in the form around 1919.Justin McCarthy at the time was attempting to sell patent drugs and remedies without much success. The patter of a marketer is satirized in this early piece. He would also draw humorous groups of small works and assemble them on pasteboard and showcard during the decade. This drawing is a good example of the artist’s humor and draftsmanship…often the protagonist resembles the artist somewhat. Untitled (Skinanboan’s Caster Oil Pills) c. 1930. Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy "Woman Dancer" c. 1920 Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy Untitled Crayon Drawing "Woman Dancer" paper mounted on cardboard circa 1920 Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy “Miss Grace George” Crayon Drawing c. 1915 - 1920 Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy “Miss Grace George”. Crayon Drawing c. 1915 - 1920 Crayon Drawing affixed to a book page Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy Alice Delysia in Afgar 1921 two- sided drawing in crayon.

Alice Delysia in Afgar backed with a Chorus Girl from Afgar March 26 1921. Afgar was 
“an extravagant musical comedy” performed 300 times in London and moving to Broadway in 1921. The New York Times thought the show “sufficient” but that Delasia was “stunning”. The show was most notable for the lavish costumes by Paul Poiret which McCarthy attempted to copy here. Justin McCarthy Two sided crayon drawings, 1921 collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy "Milk Maid" watercolor painting

Justin McCarthy "Milk Maid" watercolor painting circa 1925 - 1935 collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy Movie Stars

Justin McCarthy untitled (Grouping of four works featuring actors) mounted on Manilla folder. Ink and Watercolor circa 1930 - 1950 Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy “Nude by the Pool” c. 1930 Watercolor Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy “Nude by the Pool” c. 1930 Watercolor. Ex collection Tom Armstrong Illustrated in "Justin McCarthy" by Ute Stebich 1985 p.19 Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy Untitled (Nurse?) Crayon mounted on scrap wallpaper c. 1915 - 1920. Collection Jim Linderman

Justin McCarthy Untitled (Nurse?) Crayon mounted on scrap wallpaper c. 1915 - 1920. It may have been mounted on the wallpaper (Imperial Washable Wallpaper) at a later date. The reverse is Rubber Stamped "The Strauser Collection of Works by Justin McCarthy" with the sigature of Sterling Strauser. Collection Jim Linderman. Likely produced at the Pennsylvania Homeopathic Hospital for the Insane, c. 1920. There is a similar work from the same period (A watercolor) titled “Miss Moran of the Industrial room at the Rittenhouse Pennsylvania State Homeopathic Hospital for the Insane” posted on the web. The facility opened in 1912, changed their name to The Allentown State Hospital later and closed in 2010.