ORIGINAL HARRY CASSIE BEST (1863-1936) 'YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK' HAND COLORED PHOTOGRAPH

This is a great piece. This is the second Harry Best photograph I have had recently.  The reason I learned about Best was because when researching a recent Ansel Adams photograph I acquired, I learned that Best's daughter married Adams and actually Adams took over his studio at Yosemite.  For those not familiar with the photographer I have included his biography below.  This is an incredible view of Yosemite.  I believe that is the 3 sisters in the upper right but not completely sure.  The photograph measures 7 1/4 x 9 3/8 inches on sheet measuring 9 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches.  Signed in pen lower right below the image.  The image is in wonderful condition with good contrast and original hand coloring.  As you can see the upper right and lower left corner of the margins have chipped from the sheet.  The other issue is in the upper and lower left corners of the image is there is what looks like tape residue from a previous matte or something just getting stuck to it.  Neither is too bad and actually if you matte the photograph you can bring the matte in about 1/2 inch on that side and cover it up with out any real loss of the image.  Do your own research on this great photograph.  FREE SHIPPING ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES!   

For those not familiar with the artist, his biography from askart reads: "Harry Cassie Best was born in Mount Pleasant near Petersboro, Canada in 1863.  As a young man, Harry and his brother Arthur traveled around the countryside of Oregon and California earning a living by playing instruments in a band.  In 1887 Harry was inspired to become an artist by seeing the beauty of the changing seasons of Mt. Hood in Oregon. When the band broke up, Best moved to San Francisco in the 1890's with his brother, who also was an aspiring artist.  They both studied painting with Alfred Rodriquez.  He also worked on improving his cartooning ability, as he had been encouraged to do by cartoonist Homer Davenport whom he met while he still lived in Oregon.   Harry started submitting political cartoons to the San Francisco newspapers in 1891, and eventually worked for five years as a cartoonist.   Harry's brother Arthur started the "Best Art School" with Harry teaching the basic sketch class.

Around 1900 the successful landscape painter, Thaddeus Welch, asked Harry to accompany him on a painting trip to Yosemite.  He was so taken with the beauty of this valley, he immediately declared his intention to move there and went about getting permission to construct a home and studio at the foot of Bridal Veil Falls.  At that same location, he married Anne Rippey, and lived there for the remainder of his life.   From 1910 on he spent his winters in Arizona.  He also painted and traveled in Paris, Italy and Hawaii. In 1907, Best had a one-man exhibit at the exclusive Washington D.C. Cosmos Club.  President Theodore Roosevelt bought a Mt. Shasta scene and had it hung in the White House.  Some of Best's most notable paintings were the sunset colors on Mt. Shasta and of course his beloved Yosemite National Park. Harry's daughter, Virginia, married photographer Ansel Adams and the Best studio later became Ansel Adams Gallery.  Best died in 1936." 

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