catalog text
"THE OLD CITY GATE, ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA - 1893" IN OIL ON PHOTOGRAPH AFTER JOHN L. STODDARD
Unsigned, after the 1893 photograph by John L. Stoddard for "Portfolio of Photographs of Famous Cities, Scenes and Paintings"
Item # 906TYX05P
An intricate and very finely detailed scene that simply embellishes the 1893 photograph by John L. Stoddard from his volume "Portfolio of Photographs of Famous Cities, Scenes and Paintings" published by the Werner Company of Chicago. The scene is executed on a dense mahogany panel with gently bevelled rear edges, set inside carefully painted black framed lines hidden just behind the edge of the frame. The precise detail in the walls, the horse, the carriage and the seated riders is riveting and is much assisted by the photograph behind the oil.
Built by the Spaniards during the 16th century to protect the settlement of St. Augustine, the wall stretched from shore to shore across the peninsula, but now at the head of St. George Street these Old City Gate is all that remains.
Measurements: 7" H x 9 1/2" W [panel]; 11 5/8" H x 14" W [frame]
Condition Report:
Spots of touchup and inpainting throughout, including the sky and a quarter size spot lower-left edge. Would benefit from being cleaned eventually, though surface still remains attractive. Minor edge wear, tiny loss upper edge from frame rubbing. Light surface scratch in brick wall left-middle approx. 1.5". Contemporary frame with wear.