Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 24

Robert David Farrington
"Parisian Street", Cityscape Oil on Canvas by Robert Farrington

1980

About the Item

This Robert Farrington's painting serves as a visual gateway to a distinct period in post-war France, composed with a deep respect for the elements interwoven into the collective memory of Paris. His work adeptly engages with the archetypal settings and concepts that convey the quintessence of this beloved and frequently visited capital. As the viewer gazes upon this artwork, they are instantly immersed in the ambiance of a food trade street, and especially the familiar historic brasserie “Au Pied de Cochon” - the sole establishment in the painting that still exists nowadays - and its surroundings at the heart of the bustling Halles district. At "6 Rue Coquillère", the act of opening the doors, each adorned with handles that resemble pig's trotters, transports one through a temporal gateway into the quintessential French world of "la cochonnaille"... The renowned "Pied de Cochon" restaurant made its debut in 1947. In its early days, it became the preferred gathering place for the "Forts des Halles" – the diligent laborers who tirelessly transported goods through the pavilions of the old Halles de Paris. From these dedicated workers to the luminaries of the time, this establishment emerged as a symbol of Parisian life. Farrington reconstructs a scene around this restaurant, nourished by her own Parisian experience when he was a young American living in France. An iconic Brigitte Bardot poster graces one of the walls in the lower right part of the painting, offering another vivid symbol of this legendary Paris. The scene includes a manually operated 1950s vehicle, a street sweeper, and a variety of other restaurants and hotels, such as El Greco, Battendier, Tabac des Halles, and many more, all gone today. What distinguishes this work is the unique perspective of a foreign painter who possesses a deep affection for Paris, having once resided in the city. Decades later – specifically, 30 years later, as the canvas was created in 1980 – he chooses to convey living memories stored in his heart (or in his photographs), creating a visual narrative pulsating with moments from his youth in Paris. Farrington selects Les Halles, aptly referred to as the "Ventre de Paris" during the 1950s, a location of unparalleled centrality. With an intimate understanding of post-war Paris, he captures in this Artwork hotels, signs of various craftsmen, hand-painted signs, a few clients seated at a terrace, and various animated characters along the street, all rendered with meticulous, lifelike precision, introducing bright colors into the signs for example, and some other details, subtly illuminating a painting almost out of a scene from a vintage black-and-white film. This painting unfolds a vivid and immersive story, one into which any observer can project themselves. It photographs a moment of simplicity and carefree post-war elation, a juncture when Paris was undergoing reconstruction while safeguarding its distinctive charm. Robert Farrington (1924-2011), a student at the Corcoran School of Art in the 1940s, embarked on journeys to Europe and the Far East. Upon his return from Europe, he briefly resided and painted in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos, New Mexico. In 1997 Mr. Farrington relocated to Venice, California. Always interested in depicting the character of actual places, he painted most of the street corners and inhabitants of this seaside community in Venice, Topanga Canyon, and the Marina Peninsula. He uses both brush and pallet knife to give texture and depth to his paintings."
  • Creator:
    Robert David Farrington (1924 - 2011, American)
  • Creation Year:
    1980
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 38 in (96.52 cm)Width: 38 in (96.52 cm)Depth: 1.25 in (3.18 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Pasadena, CA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU654313233482
More From This SellerView All
  • "Duck Lake" California Expressionist Oil Landscape by John Mitchell Martin
    Located in Pasadena, CA
    This oil painting features a calm lake where eleven black ducks swim. The artist painted a water pipe on the lake's left bank while a palm tree stands alone at the center. John Mit...
    Category

    20th Century Expressionist Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • "Fishermen Houses" Landscape Horizontal Oil Painting by Edgar Kiechle 1911-1946
    Located in Pasadena, CA
    This oil painting made in 1958 expresses perfectly the 1950s period, very minimalist with a vigorous and colorful layering of paint. Edgar O. Kiechle was born in 1911. He was a movie illustrator and a painter. Edgar studied landscape painting with Jean Mannheim, and architecture, and became an excellent watercolorist. After studying at the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles, he interned with leading architects and designers in the area. He worked at most major studios but his career as an illustrator saw him primarily at the Universal Studio Art department. In 1933, Edgar joined Lwerks as a background artist and worked on many films produced by Animated Picture Corporation through 1935. In the summer of 1941, Ed Kiechle joined the Universal Studio Art Department as an illustrator for motion pictures. His career as an illustrator saw him primarily at Universal. He also produced hundreds of oil paintings. His first public showing was in an exhibition of motion picture artists in 1945, His work came to the attention of the motion picture colony and many purchases were made by such notables of his day as Ida Lupino, Hedy Lamar...
    Category

    1950s Minimalist Landscape Paintings

    Materials

    Oil

  • "The Arno" Italian Village by the River Oil Painting by Bruce McCracken
    Located in Pasadena, CA
    This oil painting from the 65s by California Artist Bruce McCracken derives its title and inspiration from the mythical Arno River in Tuscany. Dividing the historic city of Florence into two distinct parts, the Arno has long captivated the collective imagination and continues to be a subject of exploration for many contemporary artists. Set against the backdrop of the Arno's picturesque banks, the artist likely sought inspiration from the vantage point of the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) in Florence. The painting is divided into two distinct horizons. The upper section showcases architectural buildings poised upon a medieval arch...
    Category

    1960s American Modern Landscape Paintings

    Materials

    Board, Oil

  • "Family at the Fairground" by Painter Edgar Kiechle
    Located in Pasadena, CA
    The oil painting features a family at the fairground stopping by the ice cream stand. An elegant mother hands a treat to one of her three children, while another holds his ice cream, and the last one a red balloon. A couple with a child stands on the left part of the painting, while in the background, men sitting on stools face a cook at a counter. The latter looks down and focuses on preparing food for his clients. The overall impression is joyful and lively, though it looks more like the end of the day because of the dark warm colors used by the artist to depict the scene. Edgar O. Kiechle was born in 1911. He was a movie illustrator and a painter. Edgar studied landscape painting with Jean Mannheim, and architecture, and became an excellent watercolorist. After studying at the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles, he interned with leading architects and designers in the area. He worked at most major studios but his career as an illustrator saw him primarily at the Universal Studio Art department. In 1933, Edgar joined Lwerks as a background artist and worked on many films produced by Animated Picture Corporation through 1935. In the summer of 1941, Edgar Kiechle...
    Category

    1940s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Oil

  • "Swinging Harmony" A Black Dancers" Couple by Edgar O'Kiechle - Oil Painting
    Located in Pasadena, CA
    "Swinging Harmony," is an oil painting on canvas by Edgar O'Kiechle. It transports viewers into a lively dance scene featuring a couple of black dancers swinging at the heart of the...
    Category

    1940s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas

  • "Hope : Between Earth and Heaven" Surrealist Acrylic on Canvas by Eugene Hawkins
    Located in Pasadena, CA
    In the "Fantasy/Metaphysical" series by American artist Eugene Hawkins, the convergence of surrealism and metaphysics unfolds as an exploration of existential themes common to all. C...
    Category

    1960s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

You May Also Like

Recently Viewed

View All