Nicholas Alden Brooks Art for Sale and Sold Prices

Painter, b. 1840 - d. 1904

Nicholas Alden Brooks is listed in New York City directories from 1880-1904, and is best known for his paintings of money.Considerable mystery surrounds the name Nicholas Alden Brooks. Other than having been active in New York City between 1880 and 1904, very little is known about the artist. There are no records of any art societies showing him as a member or his having participated in any exhibits. The name Brooks, in fact, could possibly be a pseudonym for Robert Fullington, whose name appears on theatrical memorabilia in Brookss trompe loeil still-life paintings.William Harnett seems to be the source of inspiration for most of Brooks work. Quite often, in fact, Brooks work was mistaken for that of Harnetts, with a counterfeit Harnett signature. Everything in these paintings was calculated to enhance doubts, often with flat objects casting minimal shadows, and so providing few visual clues as to whether the source of light in the painting differs at all from the source of light in the room where the painting is seen. However, this effort to produce perfect counterfeit allowed a trompe loeil artist little leeway to assert himself, leaving little room for spontaneity or expression.In the late nineteenth century, trompe loeil money painters were often accused of, and even arrested for counterfeiting. Charges, however, were usually reversed because their drawings were signed as personal works of art. In the mid-1880s, campaigns were launched by the Secret Service against most money painters, persuading manybut not allto desist from work that might be misconstrued.The assassination of Abraham Lincoln represented particular fascination for Brooks. Several of his paintings include posters and playbills from the Ford Theatre. One depicts a ticket stub the night that Lincoln was shot on April 14th.