ARTHUR PARTON 19th C. American Landscape Painting

ARTHUR PARTON
(American 1842-1914)
A Pool in the Adirondacks, 1876
Oil on canvas
50.25 x 35 inches/128 x 89 centimeters
Signed lower left "Arthur Parton"; lower left under signature there appears to be an additional inscription
Verso: Numerous pencil & chalk inscriptions on canvas & stretcher in part reading "No. 108; 1992; "Glass by Vannish Room (?)"; 25 (or) 125" et al.
Unframed

EXHIBITION HISTORY: National Academy of Design, New York, #368, 1876.

PROVENANCE: (record of receipt in San Francisco, May 9th, 1931); reference to the Hacienda Collection (?); to H.R. Huntington, Los Angeles, CA., July 12th, 1960; to Paul Benton, 1961; to Paul Metcalf Art Galleries, Los Angeles, CA.; to Honorable Alfred Gittelson, Beverly Hills, CA., 1962 (by direct descent in family to present day).

NOTE: The left, right and bottom tacking edges are all painted implying that the canvas was reduced marginally to accommodate the frame. The frame is not original to the canvas and very likely it was introduced to the canvas in the early 1960's. It is possible that the stretcher, although second half of the 19th C., is not original to the canvas. If the stretcher is not original to the canvas then the various inscriptions et al. would have no relevance to the painting.

SELECTED ARTIST BIOGRAPHY: Best known for his landscapes of the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains, Parton was a respected and admired painter in the New York City art scene who exhibited at the annual National Academy of Design for over Three (3) decades. Receiving the coveted Associate National Academician title in 1871 and full National Academician status in 1884, Parton, was an inspired student of Philadelphia painter & watercolorist William Trost Richards. Parton also exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (P.A.F.A.). An influential trip to France in 1869 brought awareness of the French Barbizon painters and although the artist explored Tonalism and Impressionism, his work more often reflected the second generation of Hudson School painters with its' emphasis on poignant light and deep intimate views of Nature. (Source: Who Was Who in American Art, Vol. III (P - Z), p. 2532).

CONDITION REPORT: Unlined with no damages of any kind. Light, delicate impasto throughout. Lower left in the pool under the shadows of the tree some light surface cracking, not through to the ground. Very healthy canvas in near perfect original condition. No tears, repairs or punctures anywhere. Last cleaned and varnished circa 1960.

ULTRAVIOLET ANALYSIS: Old varnish throughout, yellowed and opaque.

RECOMMENDATION: The canvas would benefit greatly from a cleaning and new varnish.

FRAME: unframed.