Angel De Service Espoy

Consigned to the gallery, Pasadena, California; By descent to a private collector, Encino, California; Acquired in 1997 by a private collector, Palo Alto and Oceanside, California; From Joan Irvine Smith Fine Arts, Inc., Laguna Beach, California. Signed "A. Espoy" on lower left Description In California Lupines and Poppies, Angel De Service Espoy captures the vibrant splendor of California’s springtime wildflowers with lyrical brushwork and atmospheric sensitivity. A hillside awash in blooming blue lupines and golden poppies slopes gently toward a distant view of rolling hills beneath a soft, clouded sky. Espoy’s confident handling of color and texture brings the landscape to life, evoking the fleeting beauty of the state’s native flora and the delicate transitions of light across the land. This intimate composition reflects the artist’s deep affection for California’s rural countryside and his enduring legacy as a painter of its most poetic vistas. Based on the painting’s style, subject matter, and scale, California Lupines and Poppies was most likely created between 1925 and 1940—a period when Espoy was actively painting California’s coastal and inland landscapes, particularly in the Monterey Peninsula and Carmel Highlands regions. The composition, with its gently rolling hills, distant haze, and vivid display of native wildflowers, closely aligns with Espoy’s known plein air works of the Central Coast. The loose yet confident brushwork, naturalistic light, and spontaneous floral groupings all support the likelihood that this piece was painted en plein air. Espoy often created small-format oils like this one outdoors as finished works in their own right or as preparatory studies for larger studio paintings. His style blends Realism and Impressionism, drawing upon the influences of his training under Joaquín Sorolla (1863–1923) and the French Barbizon School, resulting in works that balance truthful representation with a painterly, light-filled immediacy. Historical Significance Born in Spain and trained in Barcelona, Angel Espoy immigrated to the United States in the early 20th century, eventually settling in California, where he became known for his floral landscapes, maritime scenes, and depictions of the Pacific coastline. Espoy’s lupine and poppy paintings are among his most beloved subjects, reflecting the natural beauty of the state and the influence of California Impressionism. In the 1920s–1930s, Espoy’s work gained popularity among collectors who sought colorful, uplifting views of the West, particularly during the Depression era. His florals not only document California’s seasonal splendor but also contribute to the legacy of artists who elevated regional wildflowers to a fine art subject—following in the tradition of Granville Redmond, William Wendt, and Guy Rose. Today, Espoy’s flower-filled landscapes remain a favorite among collectors of early California art...

Consigned to the gallery; By descent to the Katherine A. Norris Legacy Collection, Huntington Beach, California; Acquired by Katherine A. Norris, Newport Beach, California; From John...