"Dude on a Rock" Photo: REH?

[Erik]

In the latest REH Foundation Newsletter there is an article called 'Robert E. Howard on the Rocks?" by Lee A. Breakiron that is about a newly discovered and controversial photo called "Dude on a Rock," that may or may not be REH. I can't find the photo anywhere online yet (I may scan it later and post it here), but I'm curious what you guys think. Do you believe it's him or not?

[deuce]

Paul Herman, Rusty Burke and Patrice Louinet walk us through most of the known photos of REH -- including "Dude on a Rock":

[Erik]

Jun 6, 2017 11:45:06 GMT -5 Erik said:

In the latest REH Foundation Newsletter there is an article called 'Robert E. Howard on the Rocks?" by Lee A. Breakiron that is about a newly discovered and controversial photo called "Dude on a Rock," that may or may not be REH. I can't find the photo anywhere online yet (I may scan it later and post it here), but I'm curious what you guys think. Do you believe it's him or not?

Ah, deuce's video in the post above discusses this photo I was talking about starting at about the 18:05 mark. Check it out    

[Von K]

Thanks for the links and info gentlemen, esp the new vid from Howard Days 2017 Deuce!

[Deleted]

Jun 26, 2017 15:44:48 GMT -5 deuce said:

Paul Herman, Rusty Burke and Patrice Louinet walk us through most of the known photos of REH:

Thanks for the video, Deuce.

[Deleted]

Jun 26, 2017 16:35:02 GMT -5 Erik said:

Jun 6, 2017 11:45:06 GMT -5 Erik said:

In the latest REH Foundation Newsletter there is an article called 'Robert E. Howard on the Rocks?" by Lee A. Breakiron that is about a newly discovered and controversial photo called "Dude on a Rock," that may or may not be REH. I can't find the photo anywhere online yet (I may scan it later and post it here), but I'm curious what you guys think. Do you believe it's him or not?

Ah, deuce's video in the post above discusses this photo I was talking about starting at about the 18:05 mark. Check it out    

That's a very interesting photo, Aggro. My first instinct says that is not Robert E. Howard, but, the more time I spend looking at the photo, I get closer to convincing myself that it is REH. 

Here's a screen-grab from the video. I don't have Photoshop (I only have Preview on my ancient laptop), so, I have attempted to bring out a little more detail in the black & white photo.



 

[Erik]

Jun 27, 2017 18:29:30 GMT -5 @hunnu said:

Jun 26, 2017 16:35:02 GMT -5 Erik said:

Ah, deuce's video in the post above discusses this photo I was talking about starting at about the 18:05 mark. Check it out    

That's a very interesting photo, Aggro. My first instinct says that is not Robert E. Howard, but, the more time I spend looking at the photo, I get closer to convincing myself that it is REH. 

Here's a screen-grab from the video. I don't have Photoshop (I only have Preview on my ancient laptop), so, I have attempted to bring out a little more detail in the black & white photo.

Ah, thanks for capturing those photos, hun.  They look clear enough for us to see here.  Anyway, I'm with you.  The longer I look at that photo, the more I think it actually is REH.  The only thing that appears off is the hairline, but maybe the picture was really taken in his late 20's or at 30 (instead of early 20's like the Foundation article suggests).  

[Von K]

Thanks Hun. I too am of the opinion that that is REH more likely than not. We just haven't seen a photo of him before from that angle with that expression in that kind of light.

Afaik, that 'Josey Wales' pistol is an 1851 Navy Colt, an old fashioned cap and ball pistol. I recall REH generally mentioning a cap and ball pistol in at least one of his western yarns, though not by specific name or model.

[themirrorthief]

I dont think its Howard, looks more like vincent d'Onofrio ...sorry about the spelling. Howard had really close set eyes with very busy eyebrows and his hair always looked straight and well combed...its not him

[Deleted]

Jun 30, 2017 1:15:02 GMT -5 themirrorthief said:

I dont think its Howard, looks more like vincent d'Onofrio ...sorry about the spelling. Howard had really close set eyes with very busy eyebrows and his hair always looked straight and well combed...its not him

I agree with you, Mirrorthief.

I just feel it is kinda easy to be convinced that this is an authentic photo of REH - over a certain amount of time. Especially, with the facial expression and the lighting on the face that is kinda deceiving. I think you're right the eyes/eyebrows, hair and I think, maybe even the cheek-bones (again, probably something to do with facial expression) don't seem like REH. Rusty Burke argues the reduced hairline may have something to do with REH's tendency to run his fingers through his hair (mentioned on numerous occasions by Novalyne Price) and the glare causing a distortion of his features (over-exposure) on the right-hand side of the photo and left-hand side of his face from the sun. Patrice Louinet kinda goes with his 'gut instinct' and thinks it is not REH. 

Nevertheless, my gut instinct is telling me that this photo is not of Robert E. Howard.  

But, then again I dunno.

[Jim Keegan]

Hi guys, saw this thread tonight and just had to join and post on this one.

Hun, I believe that was Indy Cavalier in the video who mentioned REH running his hand through his hair. Rusty is among those who think the man in the picture is not REH.

Below is a group of photographs. On the left is the face from the “rock” photo. On the right are six pictures that we’re certain are of REH. The basic shape and quality of REH's hair is consistent in every one of the six pictures on the right. No matter its length and no matter his age REH’s hair is straight in a way that no amount of hands-running-through-it would turn into that fluffy hair on the left.

REH had a very low hairline on his brow (notice how much more forehead the man on the left has). Now, look at that picture of REH in the lower right (the one where he’s drinking). That brow line is solid hair and would not move no matter what you did to it.

Also, notice REH's ears -- they stick out a little. Not so for the picture on the left.

As far as the general facial features go -- every one of the pictures on the right are clearly photographs of the same person, even though he turns his head and the light is different in each one. None of these look like the guy on the left. Puckering one’s lips does not change all of your features, including your hair and hairline that much.

The picture on the left is not REH.

[Deleted]

Jul 5, 2017 22:48:29 GMT -5 Jim Keegan said:

Hi guys, saw this thread tonight and just had to join and post on this one.

Hun, I believe that was Indy Cavalier in the video who mentioned REH running his hand through his hair. Rusty is among those who think the man in the picture is not REH.

Below is a group of photographs. On the left is the face from the “rock” photo. On the right are six pictures that we’re certain are of REH. The basic shape and quality of REH's hair is consistent in every one of the six pictures on the right. No matter its length and no matter his age REH’s hair is straight in a way that no amount of hands-running-through-it would turn into that fluffy hair on the left.

REH had a very low hairline on his brow (notice how much more forehead the man on the left has). Now, look at that picture of REH in the lower right (the one where he’s drinking). That brow line is solid hair and would not move no matter what you did to it.

Also, notice REH's ears -- they stick out a little. Not so for the picture on the left.

As far as the general facial features go -- every one of the pictures on the right are clearly photographs of the same person, even though he turns his head and the light is different in each one. None of these look like the guy on the left. Puckering one’s lips does not change all of your features, including your hair and hairline that much.

The picture on the left is not REH.

Hello and welcome Jim Keegan.

Thanks for the all the photographs together with the "Dude on a Rock" picture. Kinda helps convince me that is not REH, oh dear I'm so confused 
Oh, sorry I thought it was Rusty Burke mentioning that REH did run his fingers through his hair - it's probably because the photo was shown in the video when Rusty? was talking about REH's hair. You're right Rusty does add a couple of minutes later that he does not believe it is REH. 

Thanks and welcome again.

Hun.

[themirrorthief]

not reh

[linefacedscrivener]

So, I am working my way through Essential Solitudes, the letters between Lovecraft and August Derleth. In an early December 1932 letter, "Grandpa" (Lovecraft) adds this P.S. "I enclose Two-Gun Bob's picture. Please return it. He certainly looks the part!" 

I remembered that the "Dude on a Rock" photo was supposed to have been from Derleth's collection--correct me I am wrong. Anyway, that photo would be this one: 



In the next letter from Lovecraft to Derleth, mid-December 1932, he writes: "Glad the Terror of the Plains proved epistolarily entertaining. When you say the word I'll shoot along some more Hrobjartiana. He certainly looks his temperament in the snap shot . . . Ajax defying the lightning!  Some day he ought to get a bit of that Southwestern colour down on paper."

Hmmmm  . . . "Southwestern colour" might suggest a western pose, and a pose with a gun would be fitting. But what about "Ajax defying the lightning!"

A popular book released in 1920 by Leon Forrest Douglass was titled Ajax Defied the Lightning. A copy is available on the Internet Archive: archive.org/details/ajaxdefiedlightn00dougrich/page/n7/mode/2up

Is that the pose Lovecraft was thinking of when he wrote to Derleth? Note the pursed lips. Take a better look at the picture in the book above. 




Or, as I have learned, is it one of the images derived from this apparently popular story?  During the inter-war years, a number of cartoons used the image of Ajax defying the lightning for various purposes, either as straight humor or as political satire. Here is one:



Is that the one Lovecraft was thinking of? Ajax leaning on a rock? 

Now, I don't know if this is the photo Lovecraft was referring to in his letter, but it is food for thought that I have not seen anyone discuss yet (though someone probably already has and I just haven't seen it yet!). Which snap shot did Lovecraft send to August Derleth look like Ajax defying the lightning?

[Deleted]

I remember our Deuce posting something about 'Hrobjartiana' in the August Derleth and Arkham House thread:
swordsofreh.proboards.com/post/21832/thread

Interesting that "Hrobjartiana" refers to one of REH's self-bestowed nicknames, "Hrobjart Havard-son"

I also googled it up and found a facebook post by Booby Dee: 
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10108153185033681&set=gm.2059870790941746&type=3&theater&ifg=1

"I was interested in your drawing of your Viking dream-self.....a sturdy soul, who I hope will never catch my Roman self in any shadowy oaken wood far from the camp of the legion!"
—H. P. Lovecraft to Robert E. Howard, 6 Aug 1931, MF1.185

"Here are three more letters from Hrobjart Havard’s-sen the Reaver. Damn it, but I envy the boy his fund of energy & vigour of historical imagination!"
—H. P. Lovecraft to August Derleth, early Dec 1932, ES2.530

"Glad the Terror of the Plains proved epistolarily entertaining. When you say the word I’ll shoot along some more Hrobjartiana. He certainly looks his temperament in the snap shot….Ajax defying the lightning! Some day he ought to get a bit of that Southwestern colour down on paper."
—H. P. Lovecraft to August Derleth, mid-Dec 1932, ES2.531

This is apparently a reference to Robert E. Howard's dream of himself as a Dane, converting his name to a Danish equivalent; a drawing of this character is known from ca. 1931. (CL3.523)



Thanks for all the great posts Linefacedscrivener.