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Stag at Sharkey's
George Bellows, 1909
Bellows knew Sharkey's Athletic Club well. It was a rowdy saloon with a back-room boxing ring near his studio. Tom Sharkey, who founded it, was a former fighter who had also served in the US Navy. The Cleveland Museum of Art says the club attracted men who wanted to watch or take part in matches.
Public boxing was illegal in New York at that time, so a private event had to be arranged for a bout to happen. Normally only members could take part, but an outsider who fought was given temporary membership and called a stag.
Bellows painted the scene in 1909 with rough, energetic brushwork. The canvas is about 92 by 123 centimetres without its frame. The crowd is as important as the fighters.
From the museum record
| Artist | George Bellows |
|---|---|
| Date | 1909 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Size | Unframed: 92 x 122.6 cm |
| Museum | The Cleveland Museum of Art |
| Credit line | Hinman B. Hurlbut Collection |
| Accession number | 1922.1133 |
| Licence | Open Access (CC0) |
Source: The Cleveland Museum of Art collection record. Facts such as dates, sizes and credit lines come from that record. The write-up above was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the museum record and standard references. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
