A graduate of Cathedral School and of Vassar College, Ruth Starr Rose studied at the New York Art Students League, and under George Miller, Master Printer. Noted for her work as a lithographer and as a silk screen printmaker, the Library of Congress has permanent exhibits of her work in both media.

She is also represented in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where she was once a member of the color department; at the John Hayes Hammond Collection of Modern Art, Miliken University; Norfolk Museum, Wells College Museum of Art; Williams College Museum of Art; and the Philadelphia Art Museum.

Among the honors she received her work were the Artist for Victory Award; high honor for lithography at the New Jersey State Exposition in 1932; and the National Exhibition of the National Association of Women Artists in 1944. She also won the Goodwin prize for oil painting, and the Best of Show at the National Exhibition of the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors in 1937; was four-time winner of the Kresge Award (1932, '37, '38 and '41); was awarded the serigraph Print Prize at the Corcoran Galley of Art in 1953, and the Purchase Prize for an oil from the Norfolk Museum in 1952.

She was an active member of the Pilot Club of Alexandria and of the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association. Just a year before her death she held her 20th one-person show in this country in the lobby of the Alexandria City Hall where her colorful, imaginitive pictures drew an appreciative audience. She exhibited widely in group shows here and in Europe, as well as in South America, India, Ceylon and the Near East.

Born in Wisconsin, she lived most of her life at "Hope," an ancient manor house on the Eastern Shore of Maryland which was built by Col. Tench Tilghman, General Washington's aide-de-camp, and later restored by her parents.

Rose's interests were not limited solely to artistic pursuits. She was an avid outdoors woman, an expert equestrienne, and an ardent exponent of the Eastern Shore's gracious way of living and a lover of the Bay and its unique sporting life. While living at Pickbourne Farm, adjacent to the old family home of Hope House, she owned the famous old log racing canoe, 'Belle M. Crane', actively participating in the local racing competitions.

Suppertime -- 1931, Lithograph.

Edition not stated. Signed, dated, and titled in pencil.

Image size 8 3/8 x 10 7/8 inches (213 x 276 mm); sheet size 12 5/8 x 16 inches (321 x 406 mm).

A fine, rich impression, on cream wove paper, with full margins (1 5/16 to 2 3/4 inches), in excellent condition.

SOLD

Clarence -- 1931, Lithograph.

Edition not stated. Signed and dated in pencil. Annotated Lithograph on stone - "Clarence" in pencil, in the artist's hand, bottom left sheet corner.

Image size 13 11/16 x 9 7/8 inches (348 x 251 mm); sheet size 19 1/2 x 14 1/2 inches (495 x 368 mm).

A fine, rich impression, on cream wove paper, with full margins (1 3/4 to 4 inches), in excellent condition.

SOLD

Washing on the Back Porch -- c.1932, Lithograph.

Edition not stated. Signed and titled in pencil. Annotated Artist: Washing on the Back Porch; Title: Ruth Starr Rose, 733 Latham Street, Alexandria, Virginia in ink, in top left sheet corner, verso.

Image size 15 11/16 x 12 13/16 inches (398 x 325 mm); sheet size 20 3/8 x 15 3/8 inches (518 x 391 mm).

A fine, rich impression, on cream wove paper, with full margins (1 to 2 1/2 inches), in excellent condition.

SOLD

Little David Play on Your Harp -- 1933, Lithograph.

Edition not stated. Signed and titled in pencil.

Image size 9 3/4 x 13 inches (248 x 330 mm); sheet size 12 3/4 x 18 11/16 inches (324 x 475 mm).

A fine, rich impression, on off-white wove paper, with full margins (1 3/16 to 2 15/16 inches). A repaired tear in the top left sheet edge, well away from the image; minor soft creasing in the margins, otherwise in excellent condition.

Exhibited at the Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts, 32nd Annual Exhibition, 1942.

“To the oppressed colored people, Goliath was the symbol of a ruthless person. David the shepard boy, strolling thru the fields, making music, lives today in the countless musical marvels of the Negros. The most famous of these later minstrels on the Eastern Shore was Samuel Julius Johnson –who roamed the deep ditched roads of Talbot County, dug deep by slave labor years ago to drain the flat land. Samuel Julius Johnson was a genius of his kind. With a battered top hat and a banjo and his gift of ventriloquism, he was received with mingled fear and joy into the kitchens of the manor houses. He sang and danced and made everyone laugh and frightened the children with his sudden animal voices coming out of empty corners. He sang little David and Pretty Pear Tree and Pup and Trail, and I learned some of the spirituals from him. But never to my regret did I see him perform his proudest feat –that of the Human Pump –in which he drinks a bucket of water at one sitting and then becomes a pump as an interested bystander uses Samuel’s arm as a pump handle. No one knows if Samuel Julius Johnson is still living or not –people still claim to have seen him on some road. I for one, hope that Samuel Julius Johnson and his spirit live on forever.” –Ruth Star Rose

SOLD

"Didn't Ole Pharoah Get Drownded" -- 1934, Lithograph.

Edition not stated. Signed in pencil. Annotated "Didn't Ole Pharoah get drownded" Ruth Starr Rose, 72 Mountain Ave, Caldwell N.J. $10.00, in pencil, in the artist's hand, top left sheet corner, verso.

Image size 9 15/16 x 12 15/16 inches (252 x 329 mm); sheet size 13 1/2 x 16 5/8 inches (343 x 422 mm).

A fine, rich impression, on cream wove paper, with full margins (1 3/4 to 2 inches), in excellent condition.

SOLD

Jockeying for the Start -- 1936, Lithograph.

Edition less than 200. Signed and dated '37 in pencil. With the American Artists Group logo, and copy Jockeying for the Start by Ruth Starr Rose R.S.R. © 1936 in the lower right sheet corner, verso.

Image size 9 3/4 x 13 3/4 inches (248 x 349 mm); sheet size 12 7/8 x 17 15/16 inches (327 x 456 mm).

A fine, rich impression, on cream wove paper, with full margins (1 5/16 to 2 1/8 inches). Two pinholes in the top left margin, away from the image; masking tape stains the top left and right sheet corners verso, otherwise in excellent condition.

A scarce signed impression from the unlimited (not exceeding 200), unsigned edition published by American Artist's Group.

SOLD

Star Boats -- 1937, Lithograph

Edition less than 200, AAG. Signed and dated in stone, lower right.

Image size 8 15/16 x 13 3/8 inches (232 x 340 mm); sheet size 12 1/4 x 18 3/4 inches (311 x 475 mm).

A fine, rich impression, on cream wove paper, with good margins (1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches), in excellent condition.

Published in 1937 by American Artists Group in an unsigned, unlimited edition.

SOLD

Untitled (Glory Train) -- 1939, Lithograph.

Edition not stated. Signed and dated in pencil.

Image size 9 3/4 x 13 inches (248 x 330 mm); sheet size 12 1/2 x 15 1/4 inches (318 x 387 mm).

A fine, rich impression, on cream wove paper, with margins (7/8 to 1 7/16 inches), in excellent condition.

SOLD

Glory Train -- c.1939, Color Serigraph.

Edition not stated. Unsigned. Annotated Silkscreen Print – "Glory Train" in pencil, in the artist's hand, bottom left sheet corner.

Image size 14 15/16 x 18 inches (379 x 457 mm); sheet size 18 7/8 x 23 inches (479 x 584 mm).

A fine impression, with fresh colors, on cream wove paper, with full margins (1 1/8 to 3 7/8 inches), in excellent condition.

SOLD

"Ezekiel saw the wheel, way in the middle of the air" -- 1940, Lithograph.

Edition not stated. Signed and dated in pencil. Annotated "Ezekiel saw the wheel way in the middle of the air" Ruth Starr Rose, 72 Mountain Ave, Caldwell N.J. $10.00 in pencil, in the artist's hand, top left sheet corner, verso.

Image size 10 5/16 x 13 1/16 inches (262 x 331 mm); sheet size 11 13/16 inches (300 x 408 mm).

A fine, rich impression, on cream wove paper, with full margins (5/8 to 1 5/8 inches). Short (1/4 inch) repaired tear in the right shee edge, glue stains in the top, well away from the image, otherwise in excellent condition.

SOLD

Shadrack -- 1941, Lithograph.

Edition not stated. Signed, dated, and titled in pencil.

Image size 10 x 12 13/16 inches (254 x 325 mm); sheet size 12 1/2 x 16 inches (317 x 406 mm).

A fine, rich impression, on cream wove paper, with full margins (1 1/16 to 1 5/8 inches). Staple holes in the top left and right sheet corners; repaired tears in the bottom left corner and bottom center margin; all well away from the image; otherwise in excellent condition.

SOLD

It's Me, Oh Lord, Standing in Need of Prayer -- c.1942, Lithograph.

Edition not stated. Signed in ink. Titled in ink, in the artist's hand, bottom left sheet corner.

Image size 10 3/16 x 13 inches (259 x 330 mm); sheet size 12 11/16 x 16 3/16 inches (322 x 411 mm).

A fine, rich impression, on cream wove paper, with full margins (1 3/16 to 1 3/4 inches). Several short repaired tears in the bottom sheet edge, well away from the image, otherwise in excellent condition.

SOLD

Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho (No. 1) -- 1942, Lithograph.

Edition not stated. Signed and dated in pencil.

Image size 9 7/8 x 12 9/16 inches (262 x 331 mm); sheet size 12 1/2 x 15 15/16 inches (300 x 408 mm).

A fine, rich impression, on cream wove paper, with full margins (1 3/16 to 1 3/4 inches), in excellent condition.

SOLD

Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho (No. 2) -- 1942, Lithograph.

Edition not stated. Signed in pencil.

Image size 9 13/16 x 12 3/4 inches (262 x 331 mm); sheet size 12 1/2 x 19 5/16 inches (300 x 408 mm).

A fine, rich impression, on cream wove paper, with full margins (1 3/8 to 3 1/2 inches), in excellent condition.

SOLD

Nobody Knows the Trouble I See -- 1942, Lithograph.

Edition not stated. Signed, dated, and titled in pencil.

Image size 13 9/16 x 10 1/16 inches (344 x 256 mm); sheet size 19 x 12 5/8 inches (483 x 321 mm).

A fine, rich impression, on cream wove paper, with full margins (1 1/8 to 3 1/8 inches), in excellent condition.

SOLD

Deep River, Lord -- c.1942, Lithograph.

Edition not stated. Unsigned. Annotated Lithograph on stone – "Deep River, Lord " in pencil, in the artist's hand, bottom left sheet corner.

Image size 9 13/16 x 12 15/16 inches (249 x 329 mm); sheet size 12 x 16 inches (305 x 406 mm).

A fine, rich impression, on cream wove paper, with full margins (1 to 1 1/2 inches), in excellent condition.

SOLD

Black Christ of Mexico -- c.1942, Lithograph.

Edition not stated. Unsigned. Annotated Lithograph – "Black Christ of Mexico in pencil, in the artist's hand, bottom left sheet corner.

Image size 11 7/8 x 15 1/4 inches (302 x 387 mm); sheet size 17 1/8 x 20 1/4 inches (435 x 514 mm).

A fine, rich impression, on cream wove paper, with full margins (2 1/8 to 3 inches), in excellent condition.

Printed by Lynton Kistler with his blindstamp in the bottom left image edge.

SOLD

There Is a City Called Heaven -- c.1942, Lithograph.

Edition not stated. Titled in pencil, in the artist's hand.

Image size 9 13/16 x 13 inches (249 x 330 mm); sheet size 12 x 16 inches (305 x 406 mm).

A fine, rich impression, on cream wove paper, with full margins (13/16 to 1 5/8 inches), in excellent condition.

SOLD

Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel -- 1942, Lithograph.

Edition not stated. Signed and dated in pencil.

Image size 10 1/8 x 13 1/16 inches (257 x 332 mm); sheet size 12 1/2 x 15 7/16 inches (318 x 392 mm).

A fine, rich impression, on cream wove paper, with full margins (1 to 1 3/8 inches), in excellent condition.

SOLD

Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child -- 1943, Lithograph.

Edition not stated. Signed and dated in pencil.

Image size 10 1/8 x 13 1/16 inches (254 x 329 mm); sheet size 12 1/2 x 15 1/2 inches (337 x 400 mm).

A fine, rich impression, on cream wove paper, with full margins (15/16 to 1 1/2 inches), in excellent condition.

SOLD

All God's Chillun Got Shoes -- 1943, Lithograph.

Edition not stated. Signed and dated in pencil.

Image size 10 x 12 15/16 inches (254 x 329 mm); sheet size 13 1/4 x 15 3/4 inches (337 x 400 mm).

A fine, rich impression, on cream wove paper, with full margins (1 3/8 to 1 3/4 inches), in excellent condition.

SOLD

All God's Chillun Got Shoes -- c.1950, Color Lithograph

Edition not stated. Signed in the stone.

Image size 9 15/16 x 12 9/16 inches (252 x 326 mm); sheet size 12 3/4 x 18 3/4 inches (324 x 476 mm).

A fine, fresh impression, on cream wove paper, with full margins (1 1/4 to 3 inches), in excellent condition.

SOLD

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (No. 2) -- 1952, Lithograph.

Edition not stated. Signed in ink. Titled and annotated with best wishes of the artist in ink. Annotated in ink, in the top left sheet corner, verso, "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" one of my Negro Spirtual Series shown all over the world   A Lithograph printed from the stone   Inspired by my life at Hope House, where my family lived   & my work with the Negroes of the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Image size 7 3/8 x 10 3/8 inches (187 x 264 mm); sheet size 10 x 12 inches (254 x 305 mm).

A fine, rich impression, on cream wove paper, with full margins (3/4 to 1 9/16 inches). Tape stain and skinning in the top margin, well away from the image, otherwise in excellent condition.

SOLD

Untitled (Water's Edge) -- c.1955, Color Serigraph.

Edition not stated. Signed in pen in the image, lower right. Inscribed for Harry in pen, in the image, lower left.

Image size 12 1/4 x 16 inches (311 x 406 mm); sheet size 17 1/16 x 19 7/8 inches (433 x 505 mm).

A fine, painterly impression, with fresh colors, on cream wove paper; full margins (1 5/8 to 3 1/8 inches), in excellent condition.

SOLD