Fine Antique Marion Kavanaugh Wachtel Original California Plein Air Oil Painting Sierra Nevada Mountain Range High Sierra Landscape
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1870; Marion Wachtel had an extensive education in the arts. Her art education began at the Art Institute of Chicago. Subsequently, she worked under early American Impressionist, William Merritt Chase in New York, and the early California tonalist painter, William Keith, when she moved to San Francisco, in 1903. William Keith introduced her to her next, and final teacher, California Plein Air artist, Elmer Wachtel; who became her husband, in 1904. The two artists settled in the Arroyo Seco/Pasadena area. They both would become two of the most prominent artists in early California painting.
This painting is of the provenance of the old Bidwell Mansion, in Chico California; and is noted as such, on reverse. (The city of) Chico, California founder, John Bidwell, was born in New York, in 1819. Previously a farmer, and a teacher; he led an expedition West, to California. Entitled the Bartleson - Bidwell Party. Along the California trail in 1841, Bidwell found a job at Sutter's Mill; where gold would be discovered in 1848. (On a side note, we also have a rather large painting, by William Keith, of the old Sutter Mill). He purchased land for a ranch, and a farm; Rancho Arroyo Chico, on Big Chico Creek. The area would later become the City of Chico. During the Gold Rush, Bidwell built a mining town, called Bidwell's Bar. To mine gold on the Feather River, near present day Oroville. He became a State Senator, in 1849. Bidwell was with President Fillmore when he signed California into statehood. A successful business man that owned more than 20 different concerns, in Chico; with political ambition, he ordered the construction of a grand mansion, in 1863. The same year, he became a Brigadier General of the California Militia, during the Civil War. In 1865, Bidwell became a Republican Congressman. He met Annie Ellicott Kennedy, at a party in Washington D.C. Bidwell courted Annie over two years; then married in 1868. The mansion was completed the same year.
It was three stories tall, and had twenty six rooms. Annie's piano is still displayed in the Mansion, today. The Bidwells had many happy years in their new home. The town of Chico grew, and prospered. John Bidwell passed away in 1900. Annie donated the mansion to the Chico Presbyterian Church, with an agreement. Annie would continue to live in the Mansion, provided she would keep the property maintained, which she did until her death, in 1918. The church could not afford to keep the mansion, and sold it to the Chico Normal School, in 1923, for use as a dormitory, and offices. In 1956, the Bidwell Mansion Association was formed by concerned citizens, whom asked the City of Chico, and later, the State Parks, to help preserve the mansion. Acknowledging the Bidwells' contributions to California History, the mansion became a state park, in 1964. Restoration began immediately. Soon the mansion was restored in beautiful condition. They still have tours on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays.
Painting represents and absolutely glorious piece of early California History. Owned by the Bidwell Mansion/ and painted by early California artist, Marion Kavanaugh Wachtel. This, being a strong painting by Marion Wachtel, and due to the age, and age of the original frame, I would estimate the painting's creation date to be around 1930. Perhaps as a gift to Annie Bidwell, after Bidwell's husband, John, had passed.
This particular painting appears to be of the subject of the Sierra Nevadas. The work is excellent, and considering the mountain range subject, is a very strong work, by Marion Wachtel. There were a few minor chips, the sized of a pin dots, along the very the bottom, that were restored. Painting is a little bit loose from the nails that hold the canvas to the wood stretcher bars, on reverse; it probably should be reset, but is not a pressing issue. Due to the lightness, and lack of a complete visible signature, the painting is listed as an attribution to Marion Kavanaugh Wachtel. The painting is housed in original, antique, copper, early Arts and Crafts frame. It appears to be a molded metal on wood, custom Newcomb Macklin frame. The painting alone measures 16"X20". With frame, the painting measures 19.5"X23.5".
A painting that appears to be a very close painting to this one, in landscape-a perfect comparable painting; was sold through John Moran Auctioneers on Jun 15, 2004. "Marion Kavanagh Wachtel (1876-1954 Pasadena, CA) High Sierras landscape - "The Rushing Stream" titled verso o/c laid/d on/c 20x26 est:$25,000/35,000 Provenance: estate, Beverly Hills, CA, by descent to present family member, South Pasadena, CA"
Link: http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/343045
Sold in 2004, with an estimate of $25,000 to $35,000; with a starting bid of $12,500.
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