Leon Dabo (New York/France, 1864-1960) oil on canvas tonalist nocturnal landscape, depicting an open field with a split rail fence in the foreground and trees and an illuminated house in the distance, and a dimly lit moon and stars in the sky. Signed lower left "Leon Dabo" together with the artist's monogram. Housed in a reeded Whistler style giltwood frame with linen liner. Sight: 26 3/8" H x 35" W. Framed: 37" H x 46" W. Provenance: the estate of Edith (Edie) M. Bass, Nashville, Tennessee. Biography: Born in Paris, France in 1865, Leon Dabo apprenticed in his father's Detroit studio, then divided his time between Paris and New York. He studied with the artist Pierre-Cecile Puvis de Chavannes, who advised him to learn decorative arts because, 'if you don't you won't eat and you will die.' Dabo focused on architectural decoration until the early 1900s, when he was invited to exhibit his landscapes in New York. He painted broad views of mountains and rivers that emphasized the changing effects of light on the landscape. These images appealed to nineteenth-century Americans, who saw the countryside gradually disappearing as a result of industrialization. Dabo exhibited extensively during his lifetime, both in group shows and as a solo artist, including at the 1913 Armory Show. His work was also on display at many museums including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and the National Gallery of Art. The artist died in 1960 in New York City, and continues to be exhibited, praised, and widely collected today (Adapted from the Smithsonian American Art Museum biography of Dabo).

Some light scattered craquelure noted to canvas and some rippling to left and right side vertical margins. Two vertical repairs to canvas upper left margin, approximately 3/4" and 1/2" L. Overall light grime noted to front and back of canvas. UV light inspection reveals two areas of repair and restoration, coinciding with vertical repairs.