Lot 212
Eliza Barchus (American, 1857-1959). "Mount Shasta" oil on canvas, n.d. Signed in lower right. A stunning painting by American artist Eliza Barchus depicting Mount Shasta, a potentially active volcano at the southern end of the Cascade Range in Siskiyou County, California. The sweeping landscape shows the snow-capped peak rising in the distance, its imposing presence looming high above a mountain creek that flows into the foreground. A lone figure and 2 cattle can be seen by a log cabin and wooden bridge in the pine forest below. Mount Shasta's beauty and adventure have captivated so many people over the years; perhaps its most famous admirer was naturalist and environmental philosopher John Muir who in 1874 waxed poetically, "When I first caught sight of Mount Shasta over the braided folds of the Sacramento Valley, my blood turned to wine, and I have not been weary since." Size of painting: 25" W x 19.75" H (63.5 cm x 50.2 cm); of frame: 30" W x 24.5" H (76.2 cm x 62.2 cm)
Barchus's landscapes, like this one, have been credited with spreading the beauty of the American West to the rest of the country and event to the world. According to the Oregon Encyclopedia: "In 1971, the Oregon legislature named Eliza Rosanna Lamb Barchus 'The Oregon Artist.' The tribute marked fifty years of Barchuss work, paintings of western mountains and water features that spread a romantic ideal of the West to the rest of the country.
Barchus was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1857. After a failed marriage to John Lansing, she traveled west with her second husband, John Barchus. They settled in Portland in 1880, and while raising a family she began art lessons under William Parrott. She joined the Mutual Art Association and began exhibiting at early industrial fairs, often winning awards for her landscapes. When she was thirty-three years old, she presented a 40-by-60-inch painting of Mount Hood at the National Academy of Design in New York City.
When John Barchus died shortly after her New York triumph, Eliza Barchus became the sole support of her family. She managed a thriving downtown art studio and developed a business constructing and selling houses. In 1905, she won a gold medal for her paintings at the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition. Barchus is also credited with the introduction of color postcards in the United States, made from six of her landscapes on exhibit at the Exposition.
During her most prolific period, through the 1920s, Barchus produced thousands of works. She often used an assembly-line method, painting several canvases at once, doing a similar part on each of the works, and then repeating the process. She advertised her works in a catalog and developed a good business through the mail. For many years, she sold paintings at the B.B. Rich cigar and tobacco concession at the Portland Hotel.
Though the quality of her paintings suffered in her later years due to arthritis and failing eyesight, she was an artist of considerable ability. Her painting career ended in 1935, and she lived another 24 years to the age of 102. Eleanor Roosevelt marked Barchus's 100th birthday in her syndicated column."
Provenance: private southern California, USA collection, acquired in March 2020 via MBA Seattle Auction, Renton, Washington, USA
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#186344
- Condition: Signed in lower right. Professionally cleaned with 1.5 inch patch of repair in lower area of mountain / center of canvas. Surface wear commensurate with age, but in overall good condition. Set in custom frame with some chips and small losses to frame that do not affect painting. Old label on verso.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, Wire Transfer
Shipping
8. IN-HOUSE SHIPPING: All buyers will receive an invoice detailing their purchases, sales tax (if applicable), buyer's premium, and shipping/insurance charges. Items will be shipped only upon receipt of payment in full and will be insured for their full value. We are currently experiencing shipping delays due to staff shortages, please allow up to 15 days for shipping after payment is received. If you prefer to work with a third-party shipper, we can assist with recommendations.
**Please note, we are currently unable to ship to Australia, Germany and Switzerland due to customs clearance issues. If you are in one of these countries, you will need to provide an alternate shipping destination, or we will not be able to complete your purchase.*
**For shipments outside of the USA, customs and duties may apply upon entry into said country; this fee, if any, is the buyer's responsibility. Also, please be aware that Artemis Gallery will NOT falsify customs value on any international shipments - what you pay is what we declare, no exceptions. There are a small number of international countries we cannot ship to. If you have questions about this, please inquire BEFORE bidding**
Artemis Fine Arts
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 27.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |