Richard Hayley Lever (Australian-American, 1876-1958) impressionist oil on canvas titled "Early Morning Central Park West, Looking Towards 5th Ave. & 59th St," bird's eye view of the edge of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline, cast in a sunrise glow. Signed "Hayley Lever" with a possible illegible date, lower left. Typed artist's biography and title inscription en verso. 22K gold leaf giltwood cove molded frame with hand-carved corners. Sight: 24 1/2" H x 29 1/2" W. Framed: 35 1/2" H x 40 1/2" W. Provenance: Estate of Russell McAdoo, Murfreesboro, TN, acquired from Williams American Art Galleries, Nashville. Skinner, lot #370, March 14, 1997. Sotheby's, lot #242, Dec. 17, 1990. Biography: Australian born Hayley Lever was known for his impressionist town-shore landscapes and his use of color, which was deeply influenced by Van Gogh. He studied in London in the 1890s and then went to Cornwall, where he painted seaside paintings at an artist's colony on the coast of St. Ives and also some scenes in Northern France. Lever came to America in 1911 and soon became one of the most widely exhibited artists in New York; he taught at the Art Students League from 1919 to 1931 and became director of the Studio Art Club in Mount Vernon, New York. He maintained a studio in Gloucester, Massachusetts and traveled internationally throughout his career. His work is in the collection of several major museums. (Source: Michael David Zellman: 300 Years of American Art).

Overall very good condition with craquelure. Scattered areas of inpainting, largest approximately 1", primarily to top half of painting in sky and around buildings (see UV light photos). 19 3/4" vertical line to right side of canvas, resulting from rubbing or shifting of canvas on stretcher.