This is an expressive and interesting Vintage Mid Century Cubist Modern Surrealist Oil Painting on Artist Board, by Mid Century Los Angeles Modernist painter and public Muralist, Robert Clark. This artwork depicts a mysterious and shadowy hallway, with numerous cubistically rendered doors, doorways, and ominous shadows. Signed: "Robert Clark" in the lower right corner. Approximately 20 3/4 x 32 3/4 inches (including frame.) Actual visible artwork is approximately 11 5/8 x 23 3/8 inches. This painting likely dates to the 1950's. Good condition for age, with a few tiny nicks to the wooden inner frame, a few faint surface abrasions, and several small tears to the cloth covered outer frame (please see photos.) Acquired in Los Angeles, California. Clark produced fascinating and large-scale murals for the rotunda of San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts, the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, and an enigmatic piece titled The Egyptian in Echo Park. If you like what you see, I encourage you to make an Offer. Please check out my other listings for more wonderful and unique artworks!
About the Artist:
Robert Clark
Robert Clark (20th century) was active/lived in California. Robert Clark is known for Mural Painting.
Robert Clark was a resident of Los Angeles in 1934 and a member of Frank Van Sloun's painting crew in 1936 for murals in the rotunda of San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts.
In: Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale (Resurrection, 70' x 40').
Edan Hughes, author of the book "Artists in California, 1786-1940"
Egyptian, Echo Park, Los Angeles, 1979
Description
Egyptian, Echo Park, Los Angeles, 1979, Clark Shorthand Reporting, exterior, 2535 West Temple Street (mural on Rampart Boulevard, Echo Park. Photo-realist rendition of an enormous hand writing with a stylus and casting a shadow onto the wall. the hieroglyphics originated with statement composed jointly by the artist and business owner Robert Clark. They were translated into ancient Egyptian by a UCLA scholar. 24' x 60', by Eli Goitein. Sponsored by Robert Clark. -- Dunitz, Street gallery, rev. 2nd ed., p. 106, #8.
Hall of Crucifixion-Resurrection (Forest Lawn)
The Crucifixion
The Crucifixion painting, by Polish artist Jan Styka, was originally brought by Styka to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis in 1904. Because of its massive 195 foot long/45 foot high size, he was unable to display it and was forced to return to Poland without it because he could not pay the duty to take it home. Styka, whose self-portrait is seen in the painting as the figure of Saul (Paul), died in 1925 without ever seeing his painting again.
The Crucifixion was stored in several warehouses over the years until Forest Lawn Founder Dr. Hubert Eaton and his colleagues located it at the Chicago Civic Opera company in 1943. Forest Lawn purchased it after World War II and built the Hall of the Crucifixion for the express purpose of displaying Styka’s work. It opened on Good Friday in 1951.
The Resurrection
The Resurrection was commissioned after a 25-year-long search for an epic painting that would serve as a companion to the Crucifixion. A contest was held and American artist Robert Clark was selected to create the painting. Featuring Christ outside his tomb looking towards the heavens, Clark’s work was completed in 1965.