Curves

Figure Study, Nude: Women

Dimensions

Image Dimensions: 26.2 x 34.1 cm tipped along upper margin to mount
Support Dimensions: 47.0 x 44.0 cm modern backing board, overmatted

Affiliated with the Photographic Society of Philadelphia, amateur photographer Manning P. Brown was active in the 1930’s. This vintage nude study of an unknown model, known to have been published with the title Curves, is unsigned, and has been remounted, possibly by a California antiques dealer, in the last 30 years or so.

Although virtually unknown today, with extant examples of his output scarce in the marketplace, Manning P. Brown was nonetheless capable enough in his vision to be given awards for his work. This applied to Curves, which was honored by the Philadelphia Society. For their 1937 Annual Exhibition, the nude study was cited as the sole exhibit placed in their permanent exhibition, as noted in the Philadelphia Art News of December 6, 1937:

Each year it is the custom of the society to place one print from its annual exhibition, held at the society’s headquarters at 1615 Sansom Street, in the permanent exhibition. “Curves,” by Manning P. Brown, gained the coveted honor for 1937. Others of the society’s widely known salon pictorialists include A. R. Hallowell, Edward W. Quigley, Lewis Tabor, John Allen, Robert A. Barrows, John P. Mudd and William M. Rittase. (1.)

Timeline of Manning P. Brown: 1888-1945

1888: Born Manning Pitts Brown in Louisville, KY on July 31. (as listed on WWI draft registration: other sources state 1887)

1908: Living at 284 Madison St., Passaic, N.J. as typed on returned request for an autograph of then Governor of New York state, Charles Evans Hughes.

1910: Living in Newark, NJ, the US Census lists his occupation as that of a reporter for a newspaper.

1915: New Jersey Census lists his occupation as salesman. He is married to Edith R. Brown and has two children: Catherine R. Brown born in 1912 and Roberta F. Brown, born in 1913.

1917: Occupation listed as salesman for Endurance Tire & Rubber Company of New Brunswick, N.J. as listed on WWI Draft registration. Form states he was 28, married, with two children; living at 216 S. First Ave. in Highland Park, N.J.

1927: Living at 5016 Berry Ave. in Drexel Hill, PA along with a new wife, Sarah H. Brown (b. 1886) as listed on ship manifest.

1930: US Census lists his occupation as Life Insurance salesman.

1932: Living at 408 Greenwood Ave., Wyncote, PA as listed on ship manifest.

-Various publications list Brown affiliated with the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States.

1939: Possibly divorced a second time, he is living at 6605 N. 12th St., Philadelphia, along with Claire A. Stone, as listed on a Bermuda bound ship manifest for February.  Self employed, surviving advertising memorabilia for Manning P. Brown Insurance Service lists his Philadelphia business address as 123 S. Broad St. 

1940: Marries the former Claire A. Stone in Manassas, Virginia on September 20.

1945: Dies on June 5th at his home in Hilltown township,  Sellersville R.D. (west of Doylestown, PA) Interestingly, The Bristol Courier newspaper on July 8, 1949 prints information with a Doylestown dateline stating that in his will, Brown was to be “cremated as soon after death as possible, with no casket provided and no plans for a funeral service”. He names wife Claire as sole beneficiary of his estate worth $1,000.

Published: Curves appeared as a full-page halftone in The American Annual of Photography for 1937. (p. 149)

Provenance:  Acquired by this archive in 2018 from a dealer who previously purchased it from the estate of a Montecito (CA) antiques dealer.

1. From article titled: PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY OLDEST CAMERA CLUB IN AMERICA REACHES SEVENTY-FIVE YEAR MARK: in:  PHILADELPHIA ART NEWS -ALL THE NEWS OF PHILADELPHIA ART IMPARTIALLY REPORTED: DECEMBER 6, 1937: Vol. 1 - - - No. 3.