HELEN FORBES (1891-1945) Southwest art Arizona desert sunset gouache painting

Fine Art : Drawings : American Southwest : Arizona

 

Gouache on board painting of desert twilight with saguaro cacti and emerging stars, 7 1/8" by 6 5/8" inside the mat (15" by 15" as framed), signed at lower right by well listed and auctioned California artist HELEN FORBES (1891-1945). Though not a large work, this gem will be sure to please the collector of desert or Southwest paintings. It's in excellent, fresh condition, and at least 60 years old! The ornate French style frame is however totally unappropriate and MUST be replaced IMMEDIATELY with a more suitable frame like weathered mesquite wood, etc.!! The artist was a California native. According to the extensive biography by Edan Hughes, she was from a pioneer San Francisco family. She studied in Europe under Andre Lhote and in California with Frank Van Sloun and Armin Hansen. During the 1930's, Forbes was in the SF bay area but also painted Death Valley, and in Mexico. She was considered a plein air impressionist painter, but also worked in the print medium. Often her paintings have intense color and a WPA style appearance. Indeed, she completed mural works in a number of post office settings around California. Shipping wizard figures are guesstimates. ALLOW FOR GLASS REFLECTIONS IN SKY; SEE HUNDREDS OF OTHER PAINTINGS/PRINTS IN MY SHOP.

Item ID: JB0400