This vividly colored Impressionist oil painting on canvas painted by American artist Clifford F. Silsby is a beautifully detailed land-and-seascape depicting people carrying out their daily lives while enjoying a picnic on the banks of the picturesque Eure River in Normandy, France, a tributary of the Seine River.

Artist: Clifford F. Silsby (American 1896-1986)
Active: France, California, Connecticut
Title: "Picnic Along the Eure River in France"
Medium: Oil
Ground: Canvas
Signature: Artist signed "Clifford Silsby" front lower right
(Beneath artist signature is painted the word "FRANCE")
Other Markings or Attachments: titled on verso (reverse side of canvas) by attached card; also present is an attached typed card with biography of artist
Style and/or school: California Impressionist; American Impressionist
Period Created: Mid-century
Year (estimated): 1965-1970
Provenance: Private collection, Beverly Hills, CA since 1971

The artist was active in France, Connecticut and California, with the bulk of his paintings having been created while he was living in California. However, due to the inclusion of the word "FRANCE" beneath his signature on this painting, which is uncommon, it is a reasonable assumption that it was painted while in France.

Canvas Size (assumed): 30 inches x 40 inches (H x W)
Viewable image (of painting): 28.5 in H x 38.50 in W
Framed size: 35 in H x 49.25 in W x 2-5/8 in D

Included vintage frame, original to the work, is ornate carved wood with an antiqued whitewashed finish and matted in beige linen with a gold tone fillet.

(NOTE OF REFERENCE: a smaller sized Clifford Silsby oil painting, the owner's complementary 'companion piece' to this one, was previously sold from this Chairish shop; for reference including price, it can be found in the Chairish Pink Book.)

Background on Clifford F. Silsby:
Clifford was an American Impressionist artist (of paintings and etchings) and an engraver and the adopted son of renowned American lithographer and engraver Wilson Silsby. Born in New Haven, CT in 1896, he studied art abroad for many years, primarily in Paris at the Academy Julian, the Ecole des Beaux Arts and Academie La Grande Chaumiere. During his career he was active in Connecticut, France and California, but from 1912 to 1962 he lived and created his works primarily in California. For many years, he was also a special effects artist for motion pictures in Hollywood and New York. He died in Los Angeles in 1986.

Exhibits of his works included the Salon d'Automne, Paris, 1923; LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art), 1926 & 1959; Painters and Sculptors of LA, 1929-1943. His works belong to the permanent collections of museums in the U.S. and abroad, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, London; LACMA; and the Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science, Evansville, Indiana.

Silsby has been listed in numerous art publications and directories including "Southern California Artists"; "American Art Annual", 1929-1933; "Who's Who in American Art", 1936-1956; and "Who's Who in California", 1942.


Condition:
Alterations: Original Condition Unaltered
Imperfections: Some Imperfections
Condition Notes: Condition is excellent for both age and use. No detected damage to canvas or paint surface.

Dimensions:
Height: 35 in.
Width: 49.25 in.
Depth: 2.5 in.

Category: Paintings
Origin: France
Materials: Canvas, Oil Paint, Wood

Shipping:

Domestic: Flat-rate of $548.00 to anywhere within the contiguous U.S.

International: No International Shipping for this auction.

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Location: This item ships from Irvine, CA

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Original Condition Unaltered; Some Imperfections; Condition is excellent for both age and use. No detected damage to canvas or paint surface.