Ralph Brownell McGrew (American/New Mexico/Arizona/Ohio, 1916-1994) oil on board portrait titled "The Navajo Badhnii" depicting a Native American elder, set against a multi-colored background. Signed in red "R. Brownell McGrew" lower left. Scottsdale, Arizona art gallery label and date "1993" en verso. Housed in a moulded gilt wood frame with linen liner. Sight - 19 1/2" H x 15" W. Framed - 30 1/2" H x 26" W. American, late 20th century. Provenance: Estate of Larry Casey, Jackson, Tennessee, acquired from Obrien's Gallery On Main, Scottsdale, AZ. Biography: R. Brownell McGrew was an American painter known for his depictions of Southwestern landscapes and Native Americans. Born on September 6, 1916 in Columbus, OH, he attended the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles before painting commercially for companies, including Firestone and M.G.M. Studios. After becoming enamored with the deserts around Los Angeles, McGrew began to make painting trips through the Southwest. These journeys led him to meet and subsequently depict many of the Native American tribes of the region. The artist once said that his end goal in painting was "to paint as well as he could, in order to communicate the infinite thrill and rapture of God's creation". McGrew died on June 17, 1994 in Tuscon, AZ. (source: ArtNet). (Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.caseantiques.com.)

Overall very good condition with slight craquelure overall, shallow scratch to the lower right of subject's face, approx. 7"L. Chip to upper left corner of frame.