John Francis Murphy (American/New York/Illinois, 1853-1921) oil on canvas tonalist landscape painting titled, A Summer Afternoon, depicting a summertime meadow with a cluster of trees left forefront against an open field backdrop. Signed and dated, J. Francis Murphy – 1913, lower right. Housed in a heavily carved gilt wood Louis XIV style frame with shell center and corner ornaments and scrolling foliate decoration. Titled on the applied brass plaque. Sight – 23 1/2" H x 35 1/2" W. Framed – 35 1/8" H x 45 1/8" W. Provenance: Property of a private Knoxville, TN collection. Biography: (Courtesy of Askart & Newman Galleries) A leading tonalist of the American Barbizon School, John Francis Murphy painted landscapes similar to those of George Inness. He was born in 1853, and was largely self-taught. He first exhibited his work at the National Academy of Design in New York City in 1876. He went on to earn several prizes for his paintings including a Gold Medal in 1910 from the National Academy of Design, two awards from the Society of American Artists in 1887 and 1902; and Medals from the Pan-American Exposition in 1904. Murphy was made a full member of the National Academy in 1887. He participated in a number of other artistic societies including the Rochester and Brooklyn Art Clubs, and the American Watercolor Society. His work can be viewed at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the National Gallery of Art, both in Washington, D.C., and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. John Francis Murphy died in 1921. CONDITION: Overall very good condition. Light craquelure primarily mid and upper left sky area. Light surface grime. Very small area of fluorescence noted under blacklight, 2" left of signature, right lower margin.