Exceptional c. 1930 Paul Moro Cape Cod MA Impressionist Coastal Landscape Oil

Description: About this work: An exceptional painting of Cape Cod by American artist Paul Moro (1886-1953). Moro sought to paint the beautiful and picturesque, and he found perhaps no better subject than Cape Cod. As told by art historian Valerie Ann Leeds, “He discovered the town of Dennis on Cape Cod in 1925 through his brothers, Alfredo, Enrico, and Nino, who had been drawn to a section of the town that had quickly developed into an Italian enclave. It was at this time that Moro introduced the colorful scenery and activities of the coastal communities into his art - in scenes featuring the surroundings, his family, locals, and the beach - all of which provided a wealth of subject matter. Moro had limited time to paint while working as a restorer, yet the Cape subjects were an important part of his oeuvre, as he visited and generally vacationed there for the month of August, affording him the time and opportunity to paint without work obligations.” This work is a fantastic example of his Cape paintings. It depicts a colorful group of individuals, likely the artist’s family, relaxing on the lawn near a white cottage by the sea. In the distance, sailboats can be seen coasting along the water. The work is painted in Moro’s characteristic style with fluid brushwork and a vibrant palette. The work is oil on canvas and is signed in the lower left. It is housed in an appropriate frame with cloth lining. A comprehensive retrospective of Moro’s work was staged in 2016 at the The Newington-Cropsey Foundation and in 2017 at the Cahoon Museum of American Art. Size: 20 inches tall by 28 inches wide (painting) 27 inches tall by 35 inches wide by 2 inches deep (frame) Provenance: Weschler’s, October 8, 1972, lot 752; (acquired at the above sale) Private collection; Acquired from the above About the artist: “Although he has alternately been called a Post-Impressionist, an Impressionist, and a realist, the Italian-born American artist Paul Moro (1886-1953) established an artistic legacy that is prodigious, highly individualistic, and actually difficult to categorize. Born one hundred and thirty years ago and virtually unknown today, Moro was active artistically throughout much of his life, leaving behind an exuberant body of work - principally paintings in oil. These works are a testament to the artistic passion and dedication that Moro sustained for this creative pursuit, but his relative obscurity has hampered wider appreciation of his artistic contributions, prompting this first-ever retrospective exhibition. Moro's body of work is even more impressive in light of the fact that he was also a successful painting restorer, running a prospering studio and working six days a week as well as being devoted to his family. Nevertheless, as reported by his younger brother, his "ideal was to be a great painter." The public recognition he received during his lifetime was indeed quite limited - the highlight being two acceptances into the National Academy of Design annuals, for paintings in 1925 and 1934. And posthumously, he received three New York solo exhibitions in 1964, 1965, and 1967, which garnered significant critical press. New York Times art critic Grace Gluck declared in 1964: "it seems reasonably certain we'll be hearing more of Moro." And his work even attracted the interest of noted collector Joseph Hirshhorn (1899-1981). Moro seemed poised for long overdue recognition, yet more than fifty years would pass after this enthusiastic reception in the 1960s and before the artist would receive his first museum retrospective … at the Newington-Cropsey Foundation - sixty-three years after his death There is unfortunately little surviving documentation relating to Moro's life and career aside from his notable artistic production - much of which still resides with family and several exhibition catalogues, some reviews, a family memoir by his youngest brother, and family photographs. However, virtually no correspondence or business records are extant, leaving many lines of inquiry about his art, life, and career open and unresolved. As a result, much of what can be gleaned about Moro's life and art comes from the paintings themselves and may be augmented by fragments of second-hand family history. His art is distinctly personal in style and subject and offers the framework of an autobiographical narrative, illuminating a window into a life well and fully lived while also revealing a finely-tuned and observant understanding of his surroundings both in America and in Italy. His paintings reveal his life journey and interest in beauty and the picturesque. Moro concentrated on floral still lifes, portraits, and representations of family and places to which he had a deep connection - scenes depicting areas in and around the Bronx, Manhattan, Ossining, and Peekskill, New York, Cape Cod, as well as in Italy.” Source: Valerie Ann Leeds, Paul Moro: A Painter’s Journey, 2016 Condition: Good overall condition. Relined. Scattered inpainting. Craquelure commensurate with age. Frame with wear from handling. It is ready to be displayed and enjoyed! This work will be carefully packed and shipped with insurance and signature confirmation. Free local pick up is also available. International buyers - please note I cannot lower the declared value of the package for customs. I frequently receive messages from people after I sell an item, asking if it is definitely gone. If something catches your eye, don't hesitate to inquire before it is sold! Feel free to ask any questions.

Price: 7500 USD

Location: Morrisville, Pennsylvania

End Time: 2023-12-14T22:38:27.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD