As noted on the previous Fragments page, Tobey was a painter who was intimately involved with music in all its forms. The two Tobey Fragments below are the artist's interpretations of the composer and musician Jean Sibelius. Sibelius became an icon of Finland and Finnish music due in large part to his famous symphonies and his musical universality.

Sibelius #573. Oil & acrylic on canvas 48 x 71

Sibelius' Ear #172. Oil/iridescent paper on canvas 28 x 22

           Famous people of Literature were also subjects of Tobey's magnifying-glass scrutiny. Here he immortalizes the illustrious brow of Nobel prize-winning author John Steinbeck in the candid fragmentary study below.

John Steinbeck #284. Oil on canvas, 40 x 30

          Only minimal detail is necessary, or included to acheive the striking effect of a strategizing General Patton.

General George Patton #359. Oil on canvas, 36 x 54

           Below are two identical compositions containing similar features yet directly opposite emotive contexts.

Helen Keller is Dreaming #566. Oil on canvas, 72 x 48

Lady with the Gold Earring #382. Oil on canvas, 24 x 30

          The tightly cropped image of the cigar intensly leads us into the gnarled gaping mouth of Jimmy Durante.

Jimmy #438. Oil on canvas, 36 x 48

          Italian silhouette artist Ugo Mochi was a good friend and frequent figure model for Tobey, whom he used in his famous portraits of the master violin maker Antonio Stradivari and artist Alexander Calder, among others. This painting has been considered by many to have been one of Tobey's greatest works of art.

Ugo Mochi #494. Oil on canvas, 30 x 24

          In contrast to the intensity and seriousness to be found in many of his Fragments paintings, here Tobey uses brilliant primary colors to illsutrate the festivity of a South American native headdress -- a light, colorful, festive approach to the Fragment genre.

Indian Headdress #193. Oil on canvas, 40 x 30

          The pure repeatability of the jowls of a comedian and perhaps of an unidentified activist multiplies itself as unending yelling and laughter, or perhaps anger and exaltation, both extremes of oratory expression.

Jimmy Beside Himself #495. Oil & cutout letters on canvas 36 x 24

Hive #363. Oil on canvas 48 x 36