Description

The Little Blue House, Laguna Beach, CA, signed lower right: Geo. Demont Otis, signed again and titled on an artist's label affixed to the frame, inscribed and dated on the stretcher: Laguna Beach, Calif. 1923, titled on the original frame, oil on canvas laid to waxed canvas, 20'' x 26'', est:$4000/6000. Exhibited: Society of American Artists, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 1926, won honors (see partial label affixed to the frame). Note: The painting retains the original frame hand carved by the artist. Included with the lot are two publications: ''The California Collection: George Demont Otis (1879-1962) American Impressionist'', Sonoma County Museum, Santa Rosa, CA, July - September 1998, p. 41, illustrated, exhibition catalogue and ''The Golden Gate Collection of Paintings by George Demont Otis (1879-1962), Painter of American'', Golden Gate National Recreation Area Headquarters at Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA, 1977, exhibition brochure. Provenance: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, Municipal Collection, 1926 - deaccessioned 1978; The Grace Van Tine Hartley Trust, acquired through The Otis Gallery from the above, 1978

Condition

Visual: The canvas slightly rippled from the lining. Minor surface drips in the lower left. With graphite inscriptions in Grace Van Tine Hartley's hand in the lower left and right corners. Blacklight: A 2'' x 4'' area of touch-up in the right center on the tree and hill. A spot of touch-up in the upper center, a few minor spots of touch-up in the lower left.