Merritt Mauzey (1898-1973), Oasis

Merritt Mauzey (American, 1898-1973) Oasis Oil on canvas laid on board 18 x 24 inches (45.7 x 61.0 cm) Signed lower right: Mauzey PROVENANCE: Private collection, Dallas. Noted illustrator, Merritt Mauzey was a self-taught artist who focused on rural Texas life, especially the cotton industry. Studying under Frank Klepper, Mauzey's etchings quickly revealed him as a leader amongst the Lone Star Print Makers. A friend of the famed Dallas Nine, Mauzey exhibited at the Texas Centennial Exposition as well as at the New York World's Fair, Golden Gate International Exhibition, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. The present work, Oasis, is a wonderful example of Mauzey's flair for depicting rural Texas landscapes with a pleasing blend of Regionalism and naivete. The not quite, symmetrical composition plays a pattern leading the viewer to count lines, trees, and birds bouncing their eye across the canvas. Oasis is a rare and lovely oil example of Merritt Mauzey's naturally playful skill.

HID09710052018

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Condition Report: Four large spots of loss to the lower left quadrant; craquelure and active flaking throughout the work; loss around the edges of work; one scuff to the upper left quadrant. Not examined under black light. Framed Dimensions 26 X 32 Inches