John Marshall Gamble Original Vintage Northern California Plein Air Impressionist Landscape Oil Painting Verbena Lupine & Wild Buckwheat Birch Trees
Original vintage antique California Plein Air impressionist landscape with verbena, lupine, and wild buckwheat, below a grove of cottonwood or birch trees, by California Impressionist artist, John Marshall Gamble, (1863-1957).
John Marshall Gamble was an American painter renowned for his focus on California landscapes and wildflowers. After the 1906 earthquake destroyed his San Francisco studio, he relocated to Santa Barbara, where he became a prominent figure in the local art scene. Gamble made significant contributions as a teacher and served as the School Board President of the Santa Barbara School of the Arts.
Born in New Jersey in 1863, Gamble moved to New Zealand with his family at a young age before settling in San Francisco in 1883. He received his initial artistic education at the San Francisco School of Design under Virgil Macey Williams and Emil Carlson. Seeking further training, he ventured to Paris and studied at the Académie Colarossi and the Académie Julian under the tutelage of Jean-Paul Laurens and Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant. Upon returning to San Francisco, he established a studio that was unfortunately destroyed during the 1906 earthquake, prompting his move to Santa Barbara.
Throughout his career, Gamble achieved recognition with various awards, including a gold medal at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle. His extraordinary depictions of California's wildflowers earned him the reputation as the preeminent painter in that genre, securing him enduring fame. In 1929, Gamble joined the faculty of the Santa Barbara School of the Arts, where he later became the School Board President.
Gamble shared a close friendship with fellow artist Willis E. Davies, accompanying him on plein air painting trips and a European expedition in 1910, which ended tragically with Davies' suicide aboard the White Star liner RMS Oceanic. Gamble was laid to rest at the Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma, California.
Known for his meticulous understanding of California's landscapes, Gamble's paintings exhibited an intimate connection with nature, capturing its essence. His artwork commanded significant attention in the art world, with his piece titled "Poppies and Lupine" fetching a staggering US$178,500 in a 1998 Christie's auction. Gamble's work can be found in esteemed galleries such as Steven Stern Fine Arts, Los Angeles, and William A. Karges Fine Art. Additionally, his paintings have been acquired by renowned institutions like the Birmingham Museum of Art and the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco. Beyond his artistic achievements, Gamble also played a vital role as a mentor and teacher, earning him the title of the "Dean of Santa Barbara artists."
John Marshall Gamble
(1863-1957)
American Impressionist; New Jersey, California
It is estimated to have been created in approximately 1925
California Impressionist Landscape
Verbena, Lupine, Wild Buckwheat, and a grove of Cottonwood Trees
Oil on Artist Board/Cardboard
Signed lower portion, (in red annotation box). All signature markings are original to the painting. The letters "JMG" along the center, the lower edge of the painting being the most prominent, in black. The entire signature is not completely visible and is difficult to decipher.
The painting measures approximately 9.7"H X 12.5"W, plus the frame.
The painting is in an early circa 1920-1930 dark wood antique frame and has a newer custom acid-free dark plum purple colored fabric mat.
There is light dirt around the edges, from the previous frame. Could use a light cleaning. Some previous minor restorations to correct a few small chips in paint in the upper part of the trees, and to the right lower part of the trees, as shown. Painting may need to finish restoration underneath the Cottonwood Trees, to the right. Please review the images.
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