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Mario Larrinaga
Stylish Hawaiian Luau Oil Painting by Listed artist Mario Larrinaga (1895-1979)

About the Item

Mario Larrinaga was born in Baja California in 1895 and moved with his brother to Los Angeles in 1909. He had no formal training in art, but had natural talent that was noticed by local movie studios. He was hired by Universal Studios as a designer, art director and creator of background scenes. He produced some of the background effects for King Kong in 1933. After a career in set design and illustration he focused on painting for pleasure in California, Mexico and Hawaii. He belonged to local art clubs and exhibited his works often. This stylized modernist work was likely created around 1960. It is oil on wood panel and of a horizontal format, 18” x 36”. It portrays a procession of seemingly Hawaiian natives on way to a Luau. Larragana’s attention to detail and his fine rendering style is evident in his depiction of the figures. His bold use of color and shapes for the landscape contrast his fine details of the procession. It is very colorful and the work pops from a distance to give a striking image for a wall. The frame is original, simple wood and painted a neutral taupe color. Overall framed dimensions are 19” x 37”. It is nicely signed lower right and inscribed “Taos” underneath. Perhaps that is where he lived at the time he painted it. On the reverse side is the title, again his signature and also Taos, N.M. An original price of $300 is written, so it was likely sold through a gallery at the time.
  • Creator:
    Mario Larrinaga (1895 - 1979, American)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 18 in (45.72 cm)Width: 36 in (91.44 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    The frame has some minor wear in places, as one might expect for a work of this age.
  • Gallery Location:
    Baltimore, MD
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2396213834512
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