George Dergalis (Greek/ American, b. 1928): Boston-Sundown (Boston Skyline), 1995. Oil on custom cut panel, signed and dated lower right. This piece includes many of Boston's major landmarks from the Prudential Tower to the Old North Church to Storrow Drive.
George Dergalis, a World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veteran, now resides in Wayland, Massachusetts. He was born in 1928 and grew up in Greece. A renowned artist, his love for art began at the age of five when he was given a paintbrush, a sheet of paper, and some watercolors and told to "shut up. "A draftee into the Greek Army during World War II, Dergalis was captured and sent to a Nazi prison camp, where he spent three years. After escaping from the camp with some of his inmates, he attended an art school in Italy. He was able to collect enough money to travel to the United States. He first had a custodial job in a hospital, and soon after was drafted into the Air Force. He spoke very minimal English at the time, and did not understand what was going on at the recruiting office, and all of a sudden was off to his base. He served in the Air Transport Service, picking up wounded and ill soldiers. Dergalis served as a combat artist in the Vietnam War. With this position, he had very high status, priority even over field colonels. He painted many of the battlefields. Following the wars, Dergalis has made many symbolic sculptures and paintings based on his experiences. His most recent work was the Wayland, Massachusetts Veterans Memorial.
24 x 48 inches.
2014, Collection of Deutsche-Bank, New York, USA; Private collection, Wisconsin, USA.
Condition
Very good overall condition, light stray marks and craquelure; moisture stain lower left.