Large, photo-realist painting on canvas featuring a fire engine red and white industrial crane against a bright sky blue background
69 x 48 x 2 inches
oil on canvas, thin wood stripping
signed verso, "Joseph E. Richards"
Hangs with wire installed on the back
Excellent condition, ready to hang as is
This precisely detailed photo-realist painting was made by Joseph E. Richards in 1992. The artist painted this piece when he was 71 years old during a long career of painting trains, cargo ships, and industrial machinery. Richards served in the US Navy during WWII and went on to study at the American Academy of Art in Chicago and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia before showing with Ivan Karp of O.K. Harris Gallery in NYC. The artist moved upstate to Hillsdale, NY for the later years of his life.
This painting captures one of Richards' most beloved subjects, industrial cranes. With a photo-realist approach to the subject, Richards was able to capture detailed changes in light and shadow, shape and form. The red and white crane, painted with extreme detail and focus, vividly contrasts against a bright blue sky. Areas of brown rust, attesting to the machine's power and longevity, are captured with immaculate precision.
Since the painting has a very smooth surface, one could easily confuse this painting with a photograph. It is not until you examine the painting up close, do you realize the artist's calculated brushwork.
The painting is framed with natural wood stripping. The work is lightweight and easy to hang with pre-installed wire. The artist's signature is located on the back of the canvas.
About the artist:
Joseph Richards...
Category
1990s Photorealist Carlos Bruscianelli Art