Unknown Jack Lewis art among Dover-area artist’s collection
For as long as Amanda Sullivan can remember, her grandmother Jacqueline Johnson was a woman of the arts. She was always doing something, said Sullivan.
“Sketching, painting, silversmithing, pottery, beadwork,” said Sullivan. “She would learn a medium, master it and then do something else. She was so exceptional.”
Sullivan has been living at her grandmother’s home in Kent County for a while now. For a period, she served as Johnson’s caregiver. For the past 18 months or so, since Johnson’s death, she’s been going through her grandmother’s estate.
“I have to go through everything,” said Sullivan. “Every book. Every nook and cranny. You never know what you’re going to find.”
A recent find, and the most interesting, was a billboard painted by Jack Lewis, who’s among the most famous artists associated with Delaware. Lewis, who died in 2012, is well-known for his watercolor and oil paintings depicting life on the Delmarva Peninsula.
The lost piece of art had been stored in her grandmother’s garage for a long time. It’s not done in the traditional style Lewis is famous for; it’s promoting the availability of Lewis’ works and those by fellow artist Patrick Carter, said Sullivan.
“She always told me there’s a painting out in the garage that’s probably worth something,” said Sullivan. “It took forever to get to because it was behind a bunch of old toolboxes.”
Sullivan said she was surprised and not surprised to find the Lewis painting.
“My grandmother always had artist friends,” she said.
Sullivan said she’s hung the Lewis painting in the garage for the time being. She’s held a few yard sales to try and move some of her grandmother’s belongings. People have asked if it’s a Jack Lewis painting, but she’s told them it’s not coming off the wall.
“Until I do some more research, I’m not doing anything with it,” said Sullivan.
Sullivan said she recognizes the Lewis painting is the headliner, but she also feels it’s important to share the works by her grandmother and the other Delaware artists her grandmother had collected over the years, including Patrick Carter and Hermann Dahl.
Sullivan said she’s not exactly sure what she’s going to do with all the art. Some of it, she said, she’s definitely going to keep because the pieces have been hanging in her grandmother’s house for as long as she can remember and have sentimental value.
“I’d like to write a book and get some exposure to these artists from my grandmother’s home state,” said Sullivan. “I refuse to just box them up.”
Sullivan said she’s open to selling the Lewis painting and maybe some of the other pieces. She said interested individuals can contact her by emailing mandym0854@gmail.com.
