A American Winter Boating Watercolor by Gustavo Cenci (1897-1982)

A American Winter Boating Watercolor by Gustavo Cenci (1897-1982)

This is a brilliantly colored watercolor by an American artist whose work was associated with the WPA. It probably was done during the first half of the 20th Century. It shows two figures about to launch a sail boat on a mountain lake. They are surrounded by a snow covered landscape, distant peaks and an active sky. Cobalt blue is the predominant color, making the picture almost electric in its visual effect. The blue also conveys the frigid cold. It is a watercolor on paper, signed in the lower right. It is mounted in a period frame that has some tooling on the high outer lip. The frame has a label from the George Mayer Art Store of Cleveland, Ohio. The Mayer shop was known for hand made and hand finished frames.

Gustavo Cenci was born in Italy in 1897 and came to the United States as a boy. He studied at the National Academy of Design in New York City and was awarded prizes between 1918 and 1920. He worked as an art teacher and a muralist and was employed by the WPA during the Depression. One of his works is owned by the Smithsonian Institution.

Condition of the watercolor is very good. The frame may have been retouched with either paint or bronze powders.

Measurements are: watercolor, 18 inches x 24 inches; frame, outer dimensions, 22 inches x 28 inches.

This is a well laid out picture that also is very punchy. The graphic quality of the colors and the vista are totally modern. Its effectiveness is hard to describe adequately.

Item ID: JT78

$225 USD

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