Paul Forster (American, 1925-2012). "Trampas Gate - Rear" oil on board, n.d. Signature and title on verso. A mesmerizing painting of the Gate at Las Trampas by Paul Forster. Forster has captured the Gate's thick adobe walls, heavy wooden doors, and the ribbon-adorned cross atop its stepped pediment quite beautifully. Beyond the gate, which is located between Taos and Santa Fe, Forster has depicted a group of worshippers carrying prayer flags, one depicting Christ. Finally, in the foreground before the gate, we see the sandy earth of New Mexico which Forster has rendered with a wonderful palpable texture, skillfully delineated via a palette knife and perhaps including actual sand mixed with paint. The worshippers are likely headed toward the historic San Jose Garcia Church (also known as Church of Santo Tomas del Rio de Las Trampas) at Las Trampas, one of the most un-altered Spanish Colonial Pueblo mission churches which was built between 1760 and 1776. A fascinating painting of this important historical landmark by Paul Forster, set in an attractive custom frame. Size: 23.375" L x 35.25" W (59.4 cm x 89.5 cm) Size of frame: 29.3" L x 41.25" W (74.4 cm x 104.8 cm)

Las Trampas Historic District is an important National Historic Landmark District and the San Jose de Gracia Church is a National Historic Landmark. According to the National Park Service, "Most Spanish colonists in the mid-1700s were religious. When Las Trampas was founded, the nearest church was almost ten miles away at Picuris. By around 1760, the colonists began constructing the San Jose de Gracia Church. Built by the townspeople themselves, the church is in a typical Spanish-style, single nave plan, about 100 feet long. Its walls are made of a thick, plastered adobe. The church has a simple façade comprised of two flanking buttresses topped by wooden belfries. Within, a simple wood-floored balcony, accessed via a ladder, serves as a choir loft above the main entrance. Wooden vigas (log beams) support the roof and gracefully rise over the main interior. Though simple in form, the nave was extensively decorated with paintings, most of which remain beautifully preserved today."

At the age eight, Paul Forster became the youngest member of the Albright Art Gallery Association and also started studying at the Museum School with watercolorist Robert Blair. During World War II, Forster served in the Army Air Corps, and in 1952, he graduated from Brigham Young University with a Fine Arts Degree. In the late 1950s, Forster had a studio in Nevada painted murals for the Mormon Church. In the early 1960s, he taught art and became Chairman of the Art Department of the L.D.S. Schools of the South Pacific in Tonga. In 1969 he left Brigham Young University to paint full time. For the greater part of the next decade, Forster traveled throughout the American Southwest in an Airstream trailer to paint. In time, he moved to Oregon followed by Kansas City, but eventually returned to Arizona.

Provenance: ex-private Bishop Family Trust collection, the Trust of the late Bill Bishop, a noted antiquarian with shops in Scottsdale, Arizona and Allenspark, Colorado, USA, acquired before 2010

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#173168

Artist's signature and title of painting are on the verso. Painting is in excellent condition save one small loss at the lower left in the foreground as shown. Frame has a few scuffs/abrasions and chips, but is otherwise very nice and fitted with a suspension wire to display.