Barry Bonds, George Inness and Me:
A Study in Best Periods.

Like a firework shooting up and exploding into spectacular brilliance before fading into the evening sky, Barry Bonds, today at 713 homeruns, is definitely at his peak.

Only hindsight allows us to appreciate artists’ best periods within their oeuvres. Whereas some artists have singular moments of humbling talent, others are graced with multiple years of genius. Rarely does an artist excel in opposing styles. To categorize George Inness for his tonalist works is to discount his work of the 1850’s when he had mastered the Hudson River style. Exhibit A ›

I have a vivid memory of an encounter early on in my career with such an Inness. I was swept away by his fanatical effort to produce a lush and vibrant jewel-like painting. Now, forty years and countless paintings later, I am still in awe of his work from this early period.

You see, not like Barry and George whose periods are unpredictable, I and my fellow art dealers will be at the top of our game at the dot…Ask me at a comma or at a semicolon. My answer will always be the same. Inness was just as great in the beginning (Exhibit A).

Don’t ask me after my period. You won’t get an answer…