Sterling Boyd Strauser (Pennsylvania, 1907-1995) oil on board still life painting depicting a vase of flowers rendered in a heavy impasto technique in shades of blue, green, purple, pink, yellow, black, white and tan. Signed and dated "Strauser 67" lower right. Housed in a gilt wood frame with tan painted wooden rabbet edge. Sight – 17 5/8" H x 13 3/4" W. Framed – 24 3/4" H x 20 1/2" W. American, mid 20th century. Biography: Strauser was born in Bloomsburg, PA. and spent most of his life in East Stroudsburg, PA. Alongside his painting, he worked at the International Boiler Works in East Stroudsburg, PA for 32 years until his retirement in 1962. Throughout his career he maintained correspondence with American artists Victor Joseph Gatto (1893-1965) and Jack Savitsky (1910-1991), both of whom have works exhibited in the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington D.C. Strauser's works have been exhibited at Belmont University and the Lyzon Gallery both in Nashville, TN. However, many of his pieces are in permanent collections at the Sterling Strauser Gallery at the East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, the American Museum in Bath, England, the Everhart Museum in Scranton, PA, and Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, as well as numerous other museums, and private and corporate collections. (source: East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania). Provenance: The Estate of Jane Dudley, Nashville, TN and Palm Beach, FL. Social icon Jane Dudley was the founder of one of the South's most prestigious charity events – the Swan Ball, benefiting Cheekwood. She traveled the world as the wife of U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, Guilford Dudley, with whom she shared a landmark Nashville estate, Northumberland. A graduate of Nashville's Parmer School, Ward Belmont and Vanderbilt University, she worked briefly for the Tennessean newspaper and later for Tiffany & Co., where she managed corporate accounts for more than twenty years and later served on the board of directors. Mrs. Dudley was also a member of the International Best Dressed List. In 1963 she was the founding chairman of The Swan Ball, now the nationÕs longest running charity ball. She also chaired the Tiffany Feather Ball in New York from 1981-1991, the ball benefiting the Palm Beach Cancer Society in the 1970s (featuring entertainer Bob Hope), and in England, a ball at Blenheim Palace to raise funds for the historic castleÕs roof. CONDITION: Overall very good condition. Minute brown stains, center right quadrant of painting. Areas of dampstaining to rabbet edge. Areas of loss to frame.