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Ralph E. Anderson “San Francisco Still Life”, Trompe-l’Oeil Oil Painting, 1967

$1,150List Price

About the Item

An utterly charming and wonderfully well executed small 1967 trompe-l’œil still life oil painting on canvas depicting mid-century San Francisco ephemera by Ralph E. Anderson. Wood plank wall with a collection of posted mementos that appear to memorialize a particularly meaningful night on the town, all rendered in incredibly fine three-dimensional detail. Anderson’s camera-like eye and preternaturally steady hand on particularly impressive display in his meticulous depiction of the various printed materials, with some text being tiny enough to fit on a grain of rice while still being readable. Pin head-sized newsprint, though for the most part not quite legible, nonetheless gives the beguiling impression that it should be, with some subtle warping and shading further selling the illusion of softly wrinkled paper. That the aforementioned minutia are so crisply and convincingly realized on a textured canvas makes the overall work all the more notable, and invites closer study with magnifying glass at the ready. Keepsakes include: a torn-out San Francisco Chronicle newspaper column by the incomparable Herb Caen titled “San Francisco’s Burning”, which was the name of a popular and oft-produced local play first staged as a musical at the Playhouse in 1961; a pair of balcony seat theatre ticket stubs; a small black white photo of the city’s pre-Transamerica Building skyline (nicely echoing that atop Caen’s column); a postmarked envelope addressed to a Carolina Street residence in Potrero Hill; a San Francisco Municipal Railway ticket stub dated 1967; and an ace of diamonds playing card. Hanging humbly from a nail is what we like to imagine represents a spare “Key to the City”. Below that is an especially clever signature in the form of the artist’s simple business card. In original silver leafed wood frame with matching trim and age-mellowed cranberry velvet mat. Affixed to the back is a typed 1966 artist bio that reads: “Ralph E. Anderson was born in Los Angeles in 1928. As a child the family moved to Henderson, Nevada. Returning later to Los Angeles he attended school at the Artists’ Center and Bisttrano’s Art School. He came to San Francisco in 1952 to study portrait painting with Arthur Palmer and is at present (Nov. 1966) attending the Academy of Art in San Francisco. As a profession, he is a draftsman for engineering firm locally. Edward Shelton, retired Vice-President of Crown-Zellerbach, owns eight Anderson paintings which are hung at their residence in the Comstock Apartments.” Sight is H 10 in. x W 8 in. Overall dimensions are listed below.

Dimensions:
Height: 13.5 in (34.29 cm)Width: 11.63 in (29.55 cm)Depth: 1.5 in (3.81 cm)
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Canvas,Paint,Silver Leaf,Velvet,Wood
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
1960-1969
Date of Manufacture:
1967
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Art in great vintage condition. Some small nicks/scuffs to silver leaf, primarily at top of frame revealing red base coat. Velvet mat somewhat sun-lightened. Additional photos provided upon request.
Seller Location:
San Francisco, CA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU955019194402

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