François Verheyden (Belgian, 1806-1890). Picking apples, 1864. Oil on canvas. 28-1/4 x 42-3/4 inches (71.8 x 108.6 cm). ...

Description

François Verheyden (Belgian, 1806-1890)
Picking apples, 1864
Oil on canvas
28-1/4 x 42-3/4 inches (71.8 x 108.6 cm)
Signed and dated lower left: F. Verheyden 1864

Property from the Estate of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Morris Graham Sr., El Paso, Texas

Betty Jo Graham, affectionately known to her friends as BJ, led a remarkable life full of passion for the arts and service to her community and country. At the age of twelve, BJ began vocal training with the esteemed Mini Ferguson Owens at the University of Wichita, where she later attended college to further pursue musical excellence. She put her singing career on hold during World War II to serve her country, contributing to the Cessna AT-17 training program and working as an electrical wiring diagram analyst on the Enola Gay project.

BJ's heart remained with music, and after the war she continued to refine her vocal skills, working with notable figures like Maude Douglas Tweedy in New York and John Charles Thomas in California. BJ married Robert Morris Graham, Sr. in 1975, their love story full of adventures spanning the globe from their home base in El Paso, Texas. BJ drove the couple's artistic patronage, serving as a trustee of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra and a board member of both the El Paso Symphony Youth Orchestra and El Paso Pro-Musica. This support extended throughout the community, to the El Paso Opera, Holocaust Museum, the El Paso Museum of Art, and many more. BJ's belief in the transformative power of art and culture cemented the Graham family's role in the community as they nurtured its musical and artistic landscape.

Together, BJ and Robert established a legacy dedicated to their community, imbued with a sense of passion and philanthropy that will be remembered and cherished for generations.

Please see lots 69033, 69042, and 69043 for more from the Graham Estate.




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