Non-objective & Romantic Paintings
Some of Jess’s early works show the influence of his teachers, including Elmer Bischoff, Edward Corbett, David Park, Hassel Smith, and Clyfford Still. Later, throughout the 1950s and 60s, he produced over a hundred canvases evoking mythic, enchanted landscapes, many including figures. These often visionary paintings have been increasingly appreciated in recent years.
Model in Studio 15, #1
1950, oil on canvas
48 x 44 inches
Model in Studio 15, #2
1950-1966, oil on canvas
46½ x 38 inches
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Gift of Fine Art Associates, New York
To Corbett
1951, oil on canvas
46 x 36 inches
Odyssia Gallery
Joy in the Afternoon, Painted in the Morning
1951, oil on canvas
71¾ x 51¾ inches
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco,
museum purchase
Art Trust Fund,
gift of Michael Wilsey and Art Acquisition Endowment Income Fund in honor of Robert J. Bransten
A Meeting Ground: Imaginary Portrait #11 – Chester Villalba and Robert Steinberg
1954, oil on canvas
34 x 36 inches
Feignting Spell
1954, oil on canvas
42 x 48 inches
Crocker Art Museum
Boy Party
1954, oil on plywood
56 x 32 inches
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, gift of Odyssia Skouras
Don Quixote’s Dream of the Fair Dulcinea
1954, oil on canvas
40 x 52 inches
The Visitation (II)
1955, oil on canvas
22 x 34 inches
A Mile to the Bus Stop
1955, oil on canvas
28 x 42 inches
Poetry Collection of the University Libraries, University at Buffalo
The Door of Manycolord Glass Opend: Imaginary Portrait #1: Robert Duncan
1952, oil on canvas
The Poetry Collection of the University Libraries, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
The Hero Describes Lineage
1955, oil on canvas
22½ x 22½ inches
Odyssia Gallery
The Hero Describes Vassalage
1955, oil on canvas, 24 x 22 inches
The Hero Describes Vassalage
1955, oil on canvas, 24 x 22 inches.
French Sentiment
1955, oil on canvas
15 x 18 inches
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, gift of Fine Art Associates II, courtesy of Odyssia Skouras, in honor of Harry S. Parker III
Almost Daybreak
1958, oil on canvas
29 x 22½ inches
The One Central Spot of Red
1958, oil on canvas
38 x 40 inches
Tibor de Nagy Gallery
Seasons of Astringency: Spring: Rappaccini’s Daughter
1958, oil on canvas with velvet border16½ x 22½ inches
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, gift of David and Hilde Burton
Seasons of Astringency: Summer: Young Goodman Brown
1958, oil on canvas with velvet border, 22½ x 16½ inches
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, gift of David Farwell in memory of Robin Blaser
Seasons of Astringency: Autumn: The Birthmark
1958, oil on canvas with velvet border, 22½ x 16½ inches
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, gift of David Farwell in memory of Robin Blaser
Seasons of Astringency: Winter: The Snow Image
1958, oil on canvas with velvet border, 22½ x 16½ inches
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, gift of David Farwell in memory of Robin Blaser
Pandora Dawn
1959, oil on canvas; 10⅛ x 12⅛ inches (25.72 x 30.8 cm); San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Gift of Robert S. Rheem
Hiding Little in Big
1959, oil on canvas, 40 x 72 inches
M is for Mud
1960, oil on canvasboard, 10 x 17½ inches
He Restoreth my Soul Psalm 23
1962, oil on canvas, 12 x 16 inches, Tibor de Nagy Gallery
Hyakinthos-Apollon
1962, oil on canvas, 57 x 30 inches, Tibor de Nagy Gallery
If All the World Were Paper and All the Water Sink
1962, oil on canvas, 38 x 56 inches, The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, museum purchase, Roscoe and Margaret Oakes Income Fund, Museum Society Auxiliary, Mr. and Mrs. John N. Rosekrans, Jr., Walter H. and Phyllis J. Shorenstein Foundation Fund, Mrs. Paul L. Wattis Fund, Bobbie and Michael Wilsey, Mr. and Mrs. Steven McGregor Read, Mr. and Mrs. Gorham B. Knowles, Mrs. Edward T. Harrison, Mrs. Nan Tucker McEvoy, Harry and Ellen Parker in honor of Steven Nash, Katherine Doyle Spann, Mr. and Mrs. William E. Steen, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard E. Kingsley, George Hopper Fitch, Princess Rainieri di San Faustino, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Madden
Moonset at Sunrise
1963, oil on canvas, 31 x 24¾ inches
Petals of Paint
1964, oil on plywood, 16 x 21 inches
LXXI. Qui Auget Scientiam Auget Dolorem
1959, wax crayon