Crist, Richard Harrison (American/Western PA, 1909-1985), House by The Mill, 1940, oil on masonite panel, 24 x 32 inches, signed and dated lower right, title, size, and artist's name on board reverse, framed with a period American Scene style of painted frame measuring 29 x 37 inches. One of Crist's rare labor paintings from his time Western Pennsylvania. Born in Cleveland in 1909, Richard Crist began his formal art education at the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh and followed with further training at the Art Institute of Chicago. He returned to Pittsburgh in the 1930s and joined the WPA Art Project, painting easel work and one large school mural. He later traveled to Mexico where he met Diego Rivera and fell under the influence of David Siqueiros, with whom he had lessons. On his return to Pittsburgh, Crist won a number of awards at the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh competitions. Crist moved to New Hope, Pennsylvania around 1940, both for the pursuit of his art career and the active theatrical setting of interest to his wife. Crist's early work in New Hope bordered on Precisionism, with somewhat amusing figures in motion in the landscape. Here he was encouraged by Lloyd Ney to paint non-objective work. In the late 40s he moved to Somerset, Pennsylvania with a banker patron who hoped to continue a small art colony. He and his wife began a series of children books. Crist exhibited work at the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, the Butler Institute, the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Museum of Non-Objective Art (now the Guggenheim), Phillips Mill, New Hope and the Whitney Museum. His work is owned by Penn State University, the University of Pennsylvania and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. He settled in the Woodstock Art Colony in 1960 and remained there until his death in 1985. Source: Peter Falk, Who Was Who in American Art.
Condition
in good condition with a layer of surface dirt, (would recommend a cleaning), several linear accretions along the right edge that appear superficial and should easily be removed by a cleaning. Several small pencil point sized spots of paint loss along the fence and bush, roof of the shed, and corrugated upper wall of the Mill. Merchandise will be packed and transported by the purchaser at their own risk and expense. A list of recommended shippers is on our website: https://www.conceptgallery.com/auctions/shipping/ .