Early 20th Century Yosemite Nocturnal by William Lemos

Details

Description

Beautiful large scale oil painting of Yosemite at night with Half Dome and El Capitan above the Merced River by … Read more Beautiful large scale oil painting of Yosemite at night with Half Dome and El Capitan above the Merced River by William Lemos (American, 1861-1942). Signed "Prof. Wm Lemos" bottom right. Presented in large giltwood frame. Image, 30"H x 50"L. Weight: 21 pounds.

Born in New York on Aug. 8, 1861. As a boy Lemos earned money by wandering the streets and painting on request. Arriving in San Francisco in 1887, he established a studio at 106 Geary. With his wife Mabel, he worked in Los Angeles for a few years in the 1890s. After settling in Santa Cruz in 1896, he painted murals for many local businessmen. When the original Beach Casino was built there at the Boardwalk in 1904, Lemos was the first concessionaire and worked there for nearly 40 years. On his platform in the Casino, Lemos did paintings of redwoods, still lifes, forest fires, beach scenes, and marines. Many of his oils were done on redwood slabs which were popular with the tourists; in the early days these paintings sold for one dollar. See less