Ancel E. Nunn (Texas, 1928-1999), "Iron Butterflies", acrylic and tempera on masonite panel

sight: 20 x 16 in., frame: 21 x 17 in.

Provenance: Property from the personal estate collection of noted photographer and screenwriter William "Bill" Wittliff (Amer., 1940-2019), from his home in the Tarrytown neighborhood of Austin, Texas

Ancel Edward Nunn was an acclaimed artist known for his super-realism style and acrylic in egg tempera technique. Born in 1928, in Seymour, Texas, Nunn grew up in several West Texas communities. His early art education included studying at the Dallas Art Institute at age 15 and attending summer workshops under artists such as Dong Kingman and Alexandre Hogue. Nunn served in the United States Army Reserve with intermittent periods of active duty from 1947 until his honorable discharge with the rank of Major in 1969. Between 1964 and 1967, Nunn searched for a personal style and philosophy of painting, during which time he destroyed many of the paintings he produced. In 1969 Nunn moved to Palestine, Texas, where he set up a studio called The Foundry and continued painting. Nunn moved again in 1980 to his new Morningtown Studio east of Palestine. Exhibitions of Nunns works have been held at the Tyler Museum of Art, Lyndon B. Johnson Library, Museum of East Texas, and the University of Texas at Tyler. His work was published in Ancel E. Nunn: A Timeless World, And Where Goes the Parade, and many magazines and other publications.