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Oil on Canvas by J.R. Willis

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:750.00 USD Estimated At:1,500.00 - 3,000.00 USD
Oil on Canvas by J.R. Willis
Signed lower right, 1957. Depicting birch and pine trees. Oil starting showing crackalure. Image size 27-1/2" wide x 21-1/2" high. Framed 23-1/2" high x 29" wide. Joseph Roy (J. R.) Willis (1876-1960) is best known for his Indian photographs and paintings and Southwestern landscapes. Willis traveled throughout the Southeastern part of the United States where he took advantage of the beauty of the region to paint many portraits and landscapes. Near the end of his life, he was faced with failing eyesight, but continued to paint until the time of his death. His career began as a political cartoonist during the Spanish American War. He worked at the "Atlanta Constitution" newspaper before going to New York to study art about 1908. Then he went to California, where he was a pioneer in the cartoon industry. He also spent 10 years as a "chalk talk" artist in Vaudeville. Willis was known as the "Aspen King" because of his many paintings of the beautiful aspen trees which turn a golden color in the fall of the year. He was also known for his portraits of American Indians, principally of New Mexico and Arizona. His work was realistic in style. His style is very similar to Frederic Remington and Charles Russell. He studied with Robert Henri in New York. Photography was another medium for which he was well known. Many of the photographs were used to make view- master reels and post cards, which have become quite collectible today. In addition to the Albuquerque Museum, his work is found in a Japanese museum in Imabari, Shikoku and a museum in Valledupar, Cesar, Colombia, South America. Many pieces of his work are in private collections in this country and Germany.