Henry Golden Dearth (American, 1864-1918) large tonalist oil on canvas landscape depicting figures in an idyllic classical landscape setting. Signed “H. Dearth” lower right. Molded giltwood frame with carved ornamentation at corners and plaque titling it “Garden Fete,” ; with old NYC framing label en verso. Sight: 34 in. H x 45 in. W. Frame: 41 in. H x 52 in. W. Note: this painting is in the Henry Golden Dearth catalog raisonne being prepared by Jim Wooten and The Mattatuck Museum. According to Mr. Wooten, the present work is one of a series of chromatic paintings Dearth completed circa 1907-1910, originally entitled “Love Among the Ruins.” It was sold by Dearth to a New York collector, Dr. Alexander C. Humphreys, in 1907 and sold at auction in 1944. Details and the 1944 catalog illustration are available to the winning bidder. Biography: Henry Golden Dearth was known for tonalist, richly textured landscapes, especially twilight scenes and rock pool studies. He took his earliest art lessons with Horace Chauncey Johnson, and traveled to Paris in 1883 to study at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. He won major awards, including the Webb Prize and medals at the 1900 Paris and 1901 Pan-American expositions. Source: The National Gallery of Art.

PROVENANCE: The estate of Lyman O. “Buzz” Heidtke, Nashville, TN.

CONDITION: Craquelure and drying cracks throughout. some possibly as a result of the artist’s techniques, with a few resulting small spots of paint loss. There is a narrow band of exfoliation along the lower left edge with flakes up to 1/2 in. Frame has some surface wear and losses to gilding.