The Paintings

On the front, two nude figures are on a beach with a sunset above the ocean in the background. The female figure on the left is sitting with her feet crossed and with her hands covering her face. The male figure to the right stands with his hands on his hips and his back turned toward the viewer, facing the red sun in the background. A French title in the bottom right corner reads “La Tristesse amoureuse”
La Tristesse Amoureuse
Tennessee Williams
1978
27.5 x 23.5 x 0.75 in
On the front, a nude blond-haired, blue-eyed boy sits in the center in profile view with head turned toward the viewer. Yellow, blue, and pink brushstrokes on a white background surround him, and a thick black border frames the composition. A French title painted in orange along the right side reads “Le Beau Mec”. Signed “T.W.” in the top right corner.
Le Beau Mec
Tennessee Williams
1980
24.75 x 20.75 x 1.15 in
On the front, a figure with black hair in a red shirt and blue pants sits in the center with eyes closed on a white background. Above him are a yellow circle, blue brushstrokes, and green, yellow, and orange geometric shapes. He is framed by green cacti on a brown-yellow background. A title in French in the bottom center reads “L’Aprés Midi Chez / L’Indio”
L’Apres Midi Chez L’Indio
Tennessee Williams
1979
21.75 x 17.75 x 0.75 in
On the front, a blonde figure sits in a yellow chair in the center, surrounded by green foliage. Yellow sun in top right corner. A blue background makes up the top two thirds of the painting, and a yellow and orange grid on a white background makes up the bottom third. A French title in dark red along the bottom center reads “Une Langue Perdue”
Une Langue Perdue
Tennessee Williams
March 2, 1976
Oil paint and pencil
25.5 x 21.5 x 1.5 in
On the front, a blond nude figure with eyes closed lays on his back with his arms behind his head. He lays on bright green grass next to a blue body of water with green and pink foliage in front of his feet and two red flowers in the bottom right corner. Beneath the figure, metallic lettering (some having fallen off) read “A I OUS N REPOSE”. Signed “T.W.” in the bottom right corner.
Untitled
Tennessee Williams
1977
Oil and Pencil
21 x 25 x 0.75 in.
On the front, the painting features two yellow figures on a red background. The upper body of a yellow figure hangs upside down on the left side. To the right, a nude yellow figure with its back turned to the viewer crosses the composition with its legs to the bottom left side and arms to the upper right corner. Yellow and orange brushstrokes burst from the figure’s head and limbs. A title written in French below this yellow figure reads “Les Etoiles / d’un / Cirque / Etrange”
Les Etoiles d’un Cirque Etrange
Tennessee Williams
1994
26.5 x 20.5 x 2.25 in
On the front, a yellow nude male figure is situated in the center with hands raised and eyes closed. A horizontal yellow line crosses his torso, and another longer horizontal yellow line crosses above his hips. Brown and green foliage surrounds the figure. Signed “T.W.” in green paint in the bottom right corner.
Untitled
Tennessee Williams
25.5 x 19.5 x 1.5 in

 

This collection of paintings was generously donated to Rhodes College by Kenneth Holditch.