Paul Cadmus

(American, 1904–1999)

Paul Cadmus was an American painter, best known for his stylized, high-contrast renderings of male nudes and portraits. In his elegant tempura paintings, Cadmus emphasizes his subjects’ musculature in a style akin to Magical Realism, offering a level of intricate detail beyond observable life. Born on December 17, 1904 in New York, NY, he studied at the Art Students League in 1928 and thereafter worked in field commercial illustration, eventually receiving commissions in 1933 from the New Deal art program and going on to create mural paintings in post offices and other government offices. One of his earliest and most important works was The Fleets In!, a 1934 commission by the Public Works of Art Project of the WPA, wherein he painted a series of portraits of sailors on leave which controversially included a homosexual couple. His work garnered him both critical and commercial success, and he died in Connecticut on December 12, 1999. Cadmus has been featured in numerous important museum exhibitions, including the Whitney Museum in New York in 1996.

Paul Cadmus Artworks

Paul Cadmus (1,435 results)
Study for the

Paul Cadmus

Study for the "Burning of Richmond, 1998

Sale Date: June 4, 2015

Auction Closed

Study for

Paul Cadmus

Study for "Bicyclists, 1933

Sale Date: June 4, 2015

Auction Closed

Polo Spill, 1938

Paul Cadmus

Polo Spill, 1938

Sale Date: June 4, 2015

Auction Closed

Stewart's, 1934

Paul Cadmus

Stewart's, 1934

Sale Date: June 4, 2015

Auction Closed

Two Boys on a Beach #1, 1938

Paul Cadmus

Two Boys on a Beach #1, 1938

Sale Date: June 4, 2015

Auction Closed

Venus and Adonis, 1936

Paul Cadmus

Venus and Adonis, 1936

Sale Date: June 4, 2015

Auction Closed

Glenway Wescott, Clinton, New Jersey, 1941

PaJaMa

Glenway Wescott, Clinton, New Jersey, 1941

Sale Date: June 4, 2015

Auction Closed

George Platt Lynes and Jared French, Fire..., 1940

PaJaMa

George Platt Lynes and Jared French, Fire..., 1940

Sale Date: June 4, 2015

Auction Closed

Paul Cadmus and Jose Martinez, Fire Island, 1939

PaJaMa

Paul Cadmus and Jose Martinez, Fire Island, 1939

Sale Date: June 4, 2015

Auction Closed

Two Studies of Jared French (Z 28), 1999

Paul Cadmus

Two Studies of Jared French (Z 28), 1999

Sale Date: June 4, 2015

Auction Closed

Study of Fidelma, 1920–1929

Paul Cadmus

Study of Fidelma, 1920–1929

Sale Date: June 4, 2015

Auction Closed

Eulalia, 1925

Paul Cadmus

Eulalia, 1925

Sale Date: June 4, 2015

Auction Closed

Apple Trees, 1981

Paul Cadmus

Apple Trees, 1981

Sale Date: June 4, 2015

Auction Closed

Jon Mirrored, Study for Artist and Model, 1973, 1973

Paul Cadmus

Jon Mirrored, Study for Artist and Model, 1973, 1973

Sale Date: May 2, 2015

Auction Closed

Male Nude, circa 1969, 1969

Paul Cadmus

Male Nude, circa 1969, 1969

Sale Date: May 2, 2015

Auction Closed

Youth with Kite, 1941

Paul Cadmus

Youth with Kite, 1941

Sale Date: April 21, 2015

Auction Closed

Sheila on Venetian Chair, 1970

Paul Cadmus

Sheila on Venetian Chair, 1970

Sale Date: April 1, 2015

Auction Closed

The fleets in!, 1934

Paul Cadmus

The fleets in!, 1934

Sale Date: March 22, 2015

Auction Closed

Nudo 3, 1984

Paul Cadmus

Nudo 3, 1984

Sale Date: March 5, 2015

Auction Closed

Nudo 2, 1984

Paul Cadmus

Nudo 2, 1984

Sale Date: March 5, 2015

Auction Closed

Nudo 1, 1984

Paul Cadmus

Nudo 1, 1984

Sale Date: March 5, 2015

Auction Closed

Shore Leave, 1934

Paul Cadmus

Shore Leave, 1934

Sale Date: March 5, 2015

Auction Closed

Mother and Child, 1934

Paul Cadmus

Mother and Child, 1934

Sale Date: March 10, 2015

Auction Closed

Standing Female Nude

Paul Cadmus

Standing Female Nude

Sale Date: March 21, 2015

Auction Closed