BENJAMIN BROWN (1865-1942)
14. Early Spring, Pomona, California
Oil on canvas
Signed lower left
16 x 20 inches
23 x 28 framed
Provenance:
Private Collection, Los Angeles
It was a painting of a field of poppies that launched the career of Benjamin Brown in the year 1900. Much the same location as Early Spring, Pomona, California, the painting that first sold was painted between Altadena and Eaton Canyon. At once the poppy field became his favorite subject. He successfully began producing more landscapes and seascapes from Southern California and from his travels to Northern California and Europe.
Early Spring, Pomona, California is of an area that is now built with homes and businesses. Mount Baldy’s snow capped peak in the distance looks down on the valley below, displaying bright shades of green and a few of the famous poppies starting to bloom. The viewer is cleverly lead through the valley by a dirt road that starts in the foreground. Each area of the painting is wonderfully handled in a unifying manner. This is a California painting in every way and below Brown’s signature he was proud to print the word California.
Brown’s love for California was always evident in the oil paintings by this talented artist. His works are somewhat rare, due to the fact that for part of his career he explored various printmaking methods. Benjamin and his brother Howell organized the Printmakers’ Society of California, a widely respected organization in America, Canada and Europe. He was an excellent printmaker and was awarded a bronze medal at the Panama Pacific Exposition of 1915. In both oils and prints, Brown was an important artist who made a significant contribution to the art community of the early California Impressionists.
Works held:
British Museum; Boise Library, Idaho; California State Library, Sacramento;
Cleveland Museum of Art; The Fleischer Collection, Arizona; The Irvine Museum;
Kellogg Library, Emporia, Kansas; Laguna Art Museum; Los Angeles County Museum
of Art; The Oakland Museum; Pasadena Library; Southwest Museum; Library of
Congress, Washington D.C.
The Redfern Gallery
1540 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 T: (949) 497-3356 F: (949) 497-1324 mail@redferngallery.com
at the Montage Resort and Spa
30801 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 T: (949) 715-6193