Alson Skinner Clark
(1876-1949)
"The Salton Sea," 1922
Oil on linen laid to board
Signed and dated lower left: Alson Clark; titled and dated on label affixed verso
15" H x 14" W
Other Notes: Alson Skinner Clark was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 25, 1876, and grew up as the son of a commodities trader.† At age 14 Clark enrolled at the Art Institute of Chicago and continued in New York City†under William Merritt Chase and†the Art Students League.†In 1898 he travelled to Europe for two years, studying under the venerable American ex-pat, James McNeill Whistler in Paris. Returning to the U.S. in 1901, Clark lived in Watertown, New York, and in Chicago, where he began exhibiting in the Art Institute of Chicagoís annual shows.

In 1902, Alson married Atta Medora McMullin, who often appears in his oils as a model. Based in Paris at this time, he and Medora travelled throughout Europe painting extensively in Brittany and Italy.† Under the spell of French influence, his paintings from 1907 onward show the broken brushwork and strong outdoor color and light of impressionism that Clark is most associated with today. In addition to seeing his work juried into the prestigious Paris Salon exhibitions, Clark found exposure and strong sales in American venues ranging from the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (where he won a bronze medal), to the Society of American Artistsí show, as well as the Art Instituteís American art annuals. It was during 1913 that Alson Clark traveled to Panama to chronicle in a series of oils the massive undertaking of the Panama Canal construction.†

In 1920, Alson and Medora moved to Pasadena, CA, where the couple quickly immersed in the regionís burgeoning art scene.† By the year 1921, Clark joined the faculty of the Stickney School of Fine Arts in Pasadena and soon thereafter he became its Director. From his California studio, Clark traveled widely often painting plein air with his friends and colleagues including Guy Rose, Lawton Parker and Frederick Frieseke.†

Visual: Overall good condition. A few unobtrusive pinhead-sized areas of pigment loss scattered along the upper edge.

Blacklight: No evidence of restoration.

Frame: 21" H x 20" W x 1.75" D Condition reports are offered as a courtesy and are typically published in Moran's catalogue or can be made available upon request. The absence of a condition report does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of others. Buyers are responsible for determining to their own satisfaction the true nature and condition of any lot prior to bidding. Though buyers are not legally required to inspect lots prior to purchase, failure to do so may constitute a waiver of complaint that an item was not delivered in a condition equal to the existent condition at the auction.