Listings / Fine Art / Paintings / City Scene
Showrooms
Sixth Ave between San Carlos & Dolores Streets
Carmel, CA 93921
United States
800.833.9185
Stormy Afternoon on the Road to Imperial Valley, California
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Description
Will Sparks is widely known for his paintings of the Missions and scenes of early California’s rustic, time-worn, historic dried-mud-brick buildings. “Stormy Afternoon on the Road to Imperial Valley” is an especially fine example of his work, due to his inclusion of multiple dramatic accents in a wide variety of brilliant, bold, and unexpected colors.
This small-format painting literally bursts with color, including brilliant shades of pumpkin, electric blue and vibrant green, and the scattered, hastily applied splashes of deep, vivid hues offer the viewer a rich visual feast. The building itself seems to radiate light and the bold brushstrokes and thick application of paint give a real sense of the texture of the old adobe walls. This is a painting a collector could spend years admiring and exploring, a slow journey of discovery that continually unveils new details, colors and surprises.
As an extra historical treat, there is a wonderful inscription written by the artist that is affixed to the reverse of the painting:
"Stormy Afternoon on the Road to Imperial Valley, California"
One of the oldest real Mexican Adobes in the state. It was still standing and in use last year. The sketch was made in October, 1933, on a "fierce" day that covered the top of "Old Baldy" with Snow. The reddish color of the clay, rather unusual in that section, may have been produced by some sort of pigment.
Will Sparks
San Francisco
March 22 1934. -
More Information
Documentation: Signed Notes: Signed by the artist lower right and inscription affixed verso Origin: United States, California Period: 1900-1919 Materials: Oil on canvas Condition: Good. Styles / Movements: Impressionism Dealer Reference #: 9313 Incollect Reference #: 776262 -
Dimensions
W. 16.25 in; H. 10.125 in; W. 41.28 cm; H. 25.72 cm;
Message from Seller:
William A. Karges Fine Art Located in Carmel, CA, William A. Karges Fine Art has been a leading dealer in original early California and American paintings (1870–1940), American Southwest, and early Philippine art for over 35 years. Contact us at 800.833.9185 or gallery@kargesfineart.com to explore our exceptional collection, including works by contemporary artists Dennis Doheny, Cindy Baron, and Susan N. Jarvis.