Skip to main content

"Evening at the Grand Army Plaza" Impressionist 5th Ave NYC Oil Painting Canvas

"Evening at the Grand Army Plaza" Impressionist 5th Ave NYC Oil Painting Canvas

View Similar Items

Greg Harris - "On The Beach", Greg Harris, Original Oil, Figurative, Landscape, 36x48 in.

"On The Beach", Greg Harris, Original Oil, Figurative, Landscape, 36x48 in.

Greg Harris - "Sunday", Greg Harris, Original Oil, Figurative, Landscape, 30x24 in.

"Sunday", Greg Harris, Original Oil, Figurative, Landscape, 30x24 in.

Unknown - Antique American Impressionist Oil Painting Fall Landscape Original Carved Frame

Antique American Impressionist Oil Painting Fall Landscape Original Carved Frame

Carl Rudolph Krafft - "Winter Landscape with Stream" Carl Rudolph Krafft, Early 20th Century Landscape

"Winter Landscape with Stream" Carl Rudolph Krafft, Early 20th Century Landscape

Charles Vezin - "Factories on The River" Charles Vezin, Impressionist Industrialization

"Factories on The River" Charles Vezin, Impressionist Industrialization

Paulette Van Roekens - "Old Whaling Wharf, Newport, Rhode Island" Paulette Van Roekens, Impressionist

"Old Whaling Wharf, Newport, Rhode Island" Paulette Van Roekens, Impressionist

Edwin Child - "Hillside Landscape" Edwin Child, Farmland, Vast Rural Mountainous Landscape

"Hillside Landscape" Edwin Child, Farmland, Vast Rural Mountainous Landscape

Closson, William Baxter - "Trail of the Snowshoes" William Baxter Closson, Lyrical Snowy Landscape

"Trail of the Snowshoes" William Baxter Closson, Lyrical Snowy Landscape

Winthrop Duthie Turney - "Pigeon Hill, Rockport" Winthrop Duthie Turney, North Eastern American Landscape

"Pigeon Hill, Rockport" Winthrop Duthie Turney, North Eastern American Landscape

Josephine Reichmann - "Bass Rocks" Josephine Reichmann, Impressionist Surf, Luminous Waves, Seascape

"Bass Rocks" Josephine Reichmann, Impressionist Surf, Luminous Waves, Seascape

Frederick Lester Sexton - "White Horse" Frederick Lester Sexton, Bucolic Barn, Farm Scene, White Horse

"White Horse" Frederick Lester Sexton, Bucolic Barn, Farm Scene, White Horse

Theodore Earl Butler - "Farmhouses in Autumn, Giverny" Theodore Earl Butler, American Impressionism

"Farmhouses in Autumn, Giverny" Theodore Earl Butler, American Impressionism

Video Loading

Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 25

Johann Berthelsen, 1883-1972
"Evening at the Grand Army Plaza" Impressionist 5th Ave NYC Oil Painting Canvas
Mid-20th Century

Price:$9,000

$20,000List Price

About the Item

A stunning jewel and pertinent example of Berthelsen's charming New York City scenes. Here we find a nocturne scene with The Pulitzer Fountain at Grand Army Plaza on Fifth Avenue looking South from 59th street in New York City. The Manhattan buildings near the Plaza Hotel depicted in the far distance with pops of colors shinning through the lights and magic of the city at night. The artist was truly a master of capturing New York in all of its glory throughout the seasons. This piece is executed whimsically, yet dramatically evoking an emotion of wonder and beauty. This piece is signed lower right by the artist and stamped on the back, it comes housed in a beautiful French giltwood frame with wood liner and hanging wire on verso ready to be displayed. Art measures 20 x 24 inches Frame measures 27 x 30.5 inches Johann Berthelsen was born in Copenhagen in 1883, the 7th of seven children, to Conrad and Dorothea Karen Berthelsen. His parents were involved in artistic and professional circles. In 1890, his mother brought the children to America, settling in Manistee, Michigan, with her sister's family. They would eventually move to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, a city on the shore of Lake Michigan. As a teenager, Johann was actively involved in choirs and singing groups. And he always loved to draw and paint, and while he was too impatient to take well to schoolwork, and never went beyond the 5th grade. Although he worked in several trades, Johann's mind and heart were always with the arts. As his voice matured, he also always wanted to be an actor, and at the age of 18 moved to Chicago where he reconnected with an old friend who was studying voice at the Chicago Musical College. He was awarded the school's Gold Medal on two occasions, and after graduation, he earned a job as the lead baritone with the newly formed Standard Opera Company which was owned by the Schuberts. For the next five years, Johann Berthelsen enjoyed a rich and varied career, touring the U.S. and Canada in operas, concerts, Gilbert & Sullivan, and operettas. Despite considerable success, the grueling pace of life on the road was difficult, and in 1910 he joined the voice faculty at Chicago Musical College. So he eventually had more time to pursue other personal interests, especially painting. He became friends with the artist, Svend Svendsen, a noted landscape painter whose snow scenes especially intrigued Berthelsen, which became a major influence in his choice of mood and treatment of light and shadow. In 1913, at the age of 30, he became the youngest-ever head of the voice department at the Indianapolis Conservatory of Music. In Indianapolis, he began a friendship with the painter, Wayman Adams. A native of Muncie, Indiana, Adams had studied with William Merritt Chase and Robert Henri in Spain and Italy and had already established a reputation as a portraitist. Adams and Berthelsen were to remain best friends for the remainder of their lives. Adams would paint many significant portraits of Berthelsen including a life-sized image of his friend preparing to go on stage. In 1920, seeking to advance their careers, Berthelsen and Adams moved to New York, where both achieved rapid success. From 1920 through the late '50s, Wayman Adams painted some of his best-known works. Johann Berthelsen established a private school of singing instruction at the Rodin Studios and attracted a distinguished following, but in 1929, the heady prosperity of the Roaring '20s dissolved in the Stock Market crash, and the arts were among the hardest hit sectors. With many Broadway theaters shuttered and the Metropolitan Opera cutting salaries, Johann's pupils disappeared. With the little money left, he purchased art supplies and canvases and began to refine his technique in oil painting. He painted quickly and prolifically, bringing his work to some of the leading galleries. Of the many subjects he painted, the one that he would become most identified with was the city itself. The New York snow scenes burst with movement; cars, trucks, taxis, and people seem to rejoice in the snow that turns the city into a wonderland. Though he was exclusively self-taught he owned his craft and technique. As his paintings become more popular, his reputation increased. By 1940, his reputation had grown to the point where he was asked to join The Lecture Bureau of the Columbia Broadcasting System. In 1942 the family moved to rural New Milford, Connecticut, where Berthelsen painted many views of the surroundings. With the end of the Second World War, the Depression finally ceased and in the first blush of post-war prosperity, the public again had the time and money to devote to the arts. As more prominent personalities began to collect his work, in 1950 the family moved back to New York City, in part because of the high demand for his work and easy access to galleries. He exhibited his work at the Barbizon-Plaza Galleries, the Allan Rich Gallery, and the Jean Bohne Gallery, among others. The 1960s proved to be an especially satisfying time for Johann and his family since the financial pressures lessened and his paintings started commanding better prices. In 1971 he was hit by a car, which led to a decline in health and ultimately his death the following year 1972. PROVENANCE: Estate of a Private collection Florida; Private Collection Manhattan, New York; Lilac Gallery Collection. The piece will be stamped from Lilac Gallery on its verso.

Creator:
Johann Berthelsen, 1883-1972 (1883 - 1972, American)
Creation Year:
Mid-20th Century
Dimensions:
Height: 27 in (68.58 cm)Width: 30.5 in (77.47 cm)Depth: 2.75 in (6.99 cm)
Medium:
Canvas,Oil
Movement & Style:
American Impressionist
Period:
Mid-20th Century
Condition:
This painting has ordinary wear from age and keeps its original frame which has some ordinary wear from age as well with light cracking to the surface, otherwise, they present very well and are in excellent condition for the time period.
Gallery Location:
New York, NY
Reference Number:
Seller: 0060011stDibs: LU98215584132

More From This Seller

"Madison Square on 5th Avenue and 23rd Street" Impressionist Winter Street Scene

By Johann Berthelsen, 1883-1972

Located in New York, NY

A truly stunning jewel and pertinent example of Berthelsen's charming New York City winter scenes depicting Madison Square Park on 5th Avenue and 23rd Street. An iconic scene that so...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

"Madison Square on 5th Avenue and 23rd Street" Impressionist Winter Street Scene

Johann Berthelsen, 1883-1972
"Madison Square on 5th Avenue and 23rd Street" Impressionist Winter Street Scene, Mid-20th Century

$15,000

"Snow by Flatiron" Impressionist Oil Painting Snow Scene Style of Guy Wiggins

By Cindy Shaoul

Located in New York, NY

A charming depiction of the Flatiron building in New York City with figures in the snow. A cozy impressionistic street scene with colors of cobalts, whites, and burnt sienna's. An ic...

Category

2010s American Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

"Snow by Flatiron" Impressionist Oil Painting Snow Scene Style of Guy Wiggins

Cindy Shaoul
"Snow by Flatiron" Impressionist Oil Painting Snow Scene Style of Guy Wiggins, 2020

$2,500

"Brunch at Tartine" NYC Impressionistic Plein Air Scene Oil Painting on Canvas

By Cindy Shaoul

Located in New York, NY

This painting depicts an impressionistic scene of Brunch at Tartine in New York City. Figures are seated having Brunch with drinks in hand on this su...

Category

2010s American Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

"Brunch at Tartine" NYC Impressionistic Plein Air Scene Oil Painting on Canvas

Cindy Shaoul
"Brunch at Tartine" NYC Impressionistic Plein Air Scene Oil Painting on Canvas, 2021

$2,000

"View of the Empire State NYC in Snow" Impressionistic Ashcan School Style

By Cindy Shaoul

Located in New York, NY

An impressionistic depiction of a figure in the snow with cars and buildings in the busy City Streets. The Empire State Building is portrayed in the background as the snow filled str...

Category

2010s American Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

"View of the Empire State NYC in Snow" Impressionistic Ashcan School Style

Cindy Shaoul
"View of the Empire State NYC in Snow" Impressionistic Ashcan School Style, 2020

$1,200

"Ford Vs. Ferrari" Car-racing Scene Oil Painting on Canvas Board with Frame

By Cindy Shaoul

Located in New York, NY

A lively, impressionistic depiction of a Car-racing Scene at a crowded race track embracing the excitement of its final lap that creates movement seamlessly. We are whisked away in t...

Category

2010s American Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

"Ford Vs. Ferrari" Car-racing Scene Oil Painting on Canvas Board with Frame

Cindy Shaoul
"Ford Vs. Ferrari" Car-racing Scene Oil Painting on Canvas Board with Frame, 2011

$1,800

"Washington Square Park" Impressionist Snow Street Scene Oil on Canvas on Board

By Johann Berthelsen, 1883-1972

Located in New York, NY

A stunning and pertinent example of Berthelsen's charming New York City winter scenes depicting Washington Square Park in the snow. An iconic scene that so many have come to love and...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

"Washington Square Park" Impressionist Snow Street Scene Oil on Canvas on Board

Johann Berthelsen, 1883-1972
"Washington Square Park" Impressionist Snow Street Scene Oil on Canvas on Board, Mid-20th Century

$8,000

You May Also Like

"On The Beach", Greg Harris, Original Oil, Figurative, Landscape, 36x48 in.

By Greg Harris

Located in Dallas, TX

"On The Beach" By Greg Harris is a perfect example of his most sought after paintings. Measuring 36x48 in., this painting is timeless with woman and children at the beach...

Category

1980s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"On The Beach", Greg Harris, Original Oil, Figurative, Landscape, 36x48 in.

Greg Harris
"On The Beach", Greg Harris, Original Oil, Figurative, Landscape, 36x48 in., 1985

$25,500

"Sunday", Greg Harris, Original Oil, Figurative, Landscape, 30x24 in.

By Greg Harris

Located in Dallas, TX

"Sunday" By Greg Harris is a perfect example of his most sought after paintings. Measuring 30x24 in., this painting has two woman dressed in pink and white keeping the sun away with ...

Category

1990s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Sunday", Greg Harris, Original Oil, Figurative, Landscape, 30x24 in.

Greg Harris
"Sunday", Greg Harris, Original Oil, Figurative, Landscape, 30x24 in., 1993

$12,500

Antique American Impressionist Oil Painting Fall Landscape Original Carved Frame

Located in Buffalo, NY

An antique American Woodstock school landscape painting in an original hand carved period wood frame. Unsigned but clearly done by a very masterful hand.

Category

1930s American Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Antique American Impressionist Oil Painting Fall Landscape Original Carved Frame

Antique American Impressionist Oil Painting Fall Landscape Original Carved Frame, 1930

$2,850

"Winter Landscape with Stream" Carl Rudolph Krafft, Early 20th Century Landscape

By Carl Rudolph Krafft

Located in New York, NY

Carl Rudolph Krafft Winter Landscape with Stream Signed lower right and with thumbprint Oil on canvas 25 x 30 inches Carl Rudolph Krafft was born in 1884 in Reading, Ohio, and his ...

Category

Early 20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Winter Landscape with Stream" Carl Rudolph Krafft, Early 20th Century Landscape

Carl Rudolph Krafft
"Winter Landscape with Stream" Carl Rudolph Krafft, Early 20th Century Landscape, Early 20th Century

$12,000

"Factories on The River" Charles Vezin, Impressionist Industrialization

By Charles Vezin

Located in New York, NY

Charles Vezin Factories on The River Signed lower right Oil on canvas board 12 x 13 15/16 inches After spending half his years as a partner in a highly profitable wholesale dry-goo...

Category

Early 20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

"Factories on The River" Charles Vezin, Impressionist Industrialization

Charles Vezin
"Factories on The River" Charles Vezin, Impressionist Industrialization

$8,000

"Old Whaling Wharf, Newport, Rhode Island" Paulette Van Roekens, Impressionist

Located in New York, NY

Paulette Van Roekens Old Whaling Wharf, Newport, Rhode Island, 1921 Signed and dated lower left Oil on canvas 30 x 40 inches Painter Paulette van Roekens was born in France and attended the Philadelphia School of Design for Women (now Moore College of Art and Design) and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Her talent was recognized early on, and in 1916, she was awarded the John Sartain Fellowship at the Philadelphia School of Design. Her early paintings often were of still lifes, using flowers...

Category

1920s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Old Whaling Wharf, Newport, Rhode Island" Paulette Van Roekens, Impressionist

Paulette Van Roekens
"Old Whaling Wharf, Newport, Rhode Island" Paulette Van Roekens, Impressionist, 1921

$29,000

Recently Viewed

More Ways To Browse

Mid Century Nyc

Vintage Nyc Street Sign

The Plaza New York

Vintage Truck Art

High Back Settle

Vintage Art Supplies

New York Taxi Vintage

Lake Michigan Painting

1940s Post Impressionist Oil Painting

Vintage Mid Century Bureau

Vintage 1940S Cars

Oil Painting Sullivan

Robert Indiana Two

Mid Century Shutters

View All Popular Figurative Paintings Searches