George Ayers Cress (American/Tennessee, 1921-2008) oil on canvas painting, mounted on masonite, coastal landscape depicting a small boat tethered on a sandy beach shore with grassy dunes in the foreground, seagulls flying over a body of blue water midground and land visible in the background. Signed and dated lower right "George Cress, 1942". Unframed. 24-1/8" H x 40" W. Biography: "George Cress was born in Anniston, Alabama and studied at Emory University, American University, and at the University of Georgia under fellow Southern contemporary artist Lamar Dodd. He was a central figure in Chattanooga's arts community and served as President of the Tennessee Arts Council. He sat on the board of the Hunter Museum of Art. From 1951-1984 he was painter in residence at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga. The Cress Gallery of Art at UTC is named in his honor." (Source: The Tennessee Historical Quarterly Vol. XLIV No. 2: "Landscape and Genre Painting in Tennessee 1810-1985").

PROVENANCE: Property of the Hunter Museum of American Art.

CONDITION: Unframed. Overall good condition with some loss of paint on right edge center and top right corner, approx. 1" in upper right corner.