Mystery Painting #21 Partially Solved: A Work of Art from the Long Island Automotive Museum
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I had a real challenge and no answers for this weekend's Mystery "Painting".
Last week I purchased this 3 foot x 4 foot piece of art mounted on curved glass. The seller believes a previous owner was Henry Austin Clark, Jr. It was apparently displayed at the Long Island Automotive Museum in a back-lit box.
Mystery "Painting" questions:
- Provide any information on this work of art.
- Do you think this artwork should be restored?
- Should this artwork be placed back in a back-lit panel box?
Based on Gary Hammond's below Comment, this weekend's Mystery "Painting" will be a group effort to solve and all Comments will be immediately opened.
Congrats and kudos to Gary Hammond for likely discovering the location depicted in the painting. However, the painting is still very much a mystery.
Be Safe, Stay Healthy, Save Lives,
Howard Kroplick
Close-ups
Submitted by Gary Hammond
Storrowton Village, Massachusetts
I scanned a 1930's brochure of Storrowton Village from my collection. As I thought the lamp posts were originally of an earlier style which coincides with your painting. Obviously, the current color photo reflects an updated gas lamp. Also, in my opinion, Jones' ownership of his Variety Store from 1943-1958 seems to be right for the style of the painting. My question is whether it is a reverse painting on the glass or a watercolor on paper attached to the glass or what style of painting?
Gary
Howard Kroplick: Great research! It is a watercolor on paper mounted to glass.
Comments
The Church in the background immediately reminded me of the one at Storrowton Village in Springfield, Mass., down to the gaslight in front of it (with some artistic licenses). In addition I found an interesting obituary which lends credence to a Springfield location: Obituary - Springfield Union, Springfield, Massachusetts, 6 Oct 1970: Retired Bank Cashier Succumbs at 66 // Clyde P. Jones, 66, of 66 Warren St., West Springfield, died yesterday in Springfield Medical Center. Born in Worthington, Sept. 21, 1904, he had made his home in West Springfield for the past 40 years. He was employed as a cashier at the Commercial Trust and Bank Co. and later was the cashier at the Hathaway Bakeries.
He then owned and operated Jones’ Variety Store in West Springfield for 15 years, retiring in 1958.
All Comments are now open for this weekend’s Mystery “Painting”.
Walt Gosden
I do not ever remember seeing that painting at all at the LIAM nor at Austin’s homes in Glen Cove or on South Main Street in Southampton.
Great painting though! It should be returned to be displayed in a light box but after the paint on the glass is determined to be stable .
Bill G:
I was / am a professional artist (oil painter) and photographer.
It is hard to tell from the photo but it appears to be a watercolor painting.
My personal opinion concerning putting it in a back lit panel box is don’t do it. It will probably degrade the image and fade the colors. I suspect that the loss of color clarity in the bottom left corner might be attributed to the lightbox. As to restoring it…without a better photo image of the painting, it is difficult to tell the extent of the damage. Also sometimes the cost of restoration vs the actual value of the painting comes into play. Depending on the value of the piece, it may not make good financial sense. Valuation should first be determined.
Bill
Did a little more digging, and discovered that the Jones Variety Store was located at 251-255 Elm Street in West Springfield, placing it about 1.7 miles away from where Storrowton Village is located at the Big E (Eastern States Exposition).