Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 14

Large Maxwell Mays Folk Art Oil on Canvas, Cascade Springs Colorado, 1983

$8,500
£6,373.27
€7,388.87
CA$11,862.20
A$13,248.99
CHF 6,884.58
MX$161,346.06
NOK 87,449.53
SEK 82,402.66
DKK 55,129.93
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

Maxwell Mays (1918-2009) American painter and illustrator. Signed and dated 1983. This painting titled "Cascade Springs" is an intricate and lively depiction of a bustling Colorado town during its historical boom period. The painting illustrates the vibrant energy of the town with details of trains, trolleys, horse-drawn carriages, and pedestrians in a winter landscape. The scene captures the essence of Victorian and Edwardian architecture alongside the Rockies, representing a mix of rural charm and the burgeoning industrial presence with trains labeled "Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe" and freight cars marked "Rock Island" and "DRG." The composition is filled with movement: people strolling on the sidewalks, horses pulling carts loaded with goods, and trains arriving and departing, indicating a hub of economic and social activity. The detailed rendering of buildings, including "William M. Baxter Hay & Grain" and market scenes, emphasizes the town's industry and commerce. The snowy mountains and rooftops in the background further ground the painting in the Colorado Springs region, showcasing the rugged, wintry landscape that frames the town. The palette of subdued winter tones, combined with bright pops of color in the trains and clothing of the figures, enhances the painting’s nostalgic and whimsical quality typical of Mays' work. The title plaque on the back provides historical context, describing how people came to Colorado Springs for both riches and health, symbolizing a new society born from the merging of the West with industrial advancement. This picturesque narrative combined with Mays’ folk art style makes it a remarkable piece evoking both history and community. Overall, "Cascade Springs" is a celebration of early American life in a rapidly modernizing town, capturing both its charm and progressiveness through Mays' detailed and stylized artistic lens. Dimensions: 45.5"w x 35"h x 1.5"d (sight) Condition: Good. No issues observed. Ready to hang. About the Artist" Maxwell Mays was born in Rhode Island in 1918, and focused his art on celebrating the landscapes of his home state. Known for their birds-eye perspectives and nostalgic style, Mays' prints have appeared multiple times on the cover of Yankee Magazine. His paintings hang in many establishments, including the University of Rhode Island, and are particular favorites of Rhode Island residents. Mays' artwork often depicts scenes from throughout Rhode Island and the surrounding areas of New England but he did produce works depicting communities from across America . Featuring town squares, farm lands, and harbors, Maxwell Mays' prints celebrate the Americana found in small towns. A graduate of RISD, he began painting seriously while serving in the US Air Force in Brazil during WWII. His first one-man commercial show was at the Ferargil Gallery in New York in 1948. In the ensuing years he became notable for a number of highly successful art shows and magazine covers, and was a highly sought-after speaker and storyteller. As a successful businessman, he was Treasurer of Mays Manufacturing Company, a family business until its sale in the mid-1980s. He was Past President and Director Emeritus of the Providence Art Club where the main gallery is named in his honor. He led the drive for a major restoration of the historic property in the late 1970's. He had received Honorary Doctorates from Rhode Island College and Johnson & Wales University. He was named an Honorary Rhode Island Commodore in 1986. Upon his death in 2009, Mays willed his 300-acre estate to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, creating the Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge and Maxwell Mays Interpretive Trail. His works have come up for sale and auction, including at Christie's, and have been commanding increasingly higher prices. Given a finite body of work, Mays works will only continue to appreciate in value.
  • Creator:
    Maxwell Mays (Artist)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 35 in (88.9 cm)Width: 45.5 in (115.57 cm)Depth: 1.5 in (3.81 cm)
  • Style:
    Folk Art (In the Style Of)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
    1980-1989
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1983
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Morristown, NJ
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU5990232310652

More From This Seller

View All
1974 Acrylic on Canvas, Hector Ubertalli (American) Titled "Images - Japan 2"
Located in Morristown, NJ
Hector Ubertalli (American, b. 1928), "Images - Japan 2", 1974, acrylic on canvas, signed and dated lower right, titled with artist details on verso. The painting depicts a serene, ...
Category

Vintage 1970s American Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic, Wood

Framed Maxwell Mays Folk Art Oil on Canvas, Ferris Wheel By The Harbor, 1975
By Maxwell Mays
Located in Morristown, NJ
Maxwell Mays (1918-2009) American painter and illustrator. Signed and dated 1975, a framed oil on canvas. This painting captures a lively and nostalgic scene of a carnival featurin...
Category

Vintage 1970s American Folk Art Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Paint

Gabriel Cohen "L'Egypte Ancienne..." Naive Oil Painting on Metal
Located in Morristown, NJ
Gabriel Cohen (1933-2017) French/Israeli, "L'Egypte ancienne..." Naive-style oil painted on sheet metal with a crimped and painted edge forming the frame. The work is a fantastic dep...
Category

Vintage 1980s Folk Art Paintings

Materials

Metal, Sheet Metal

Pepe Romero, Framed Oil on Burlap, Garden in the City Signed and Dated 1958
By Hans Hofmann
Located in Morristown, NJ
Pepe Romero (20th Century), “Garden in the City,” 1958 Oil on Burlap, Signed and Dated Vibrant and expressive, this 1958 abstract oil painting by Pepe Romero captures the bold spiri...
Category

Vintage 1950s Argentine Mid-Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Burlap, Wood, Paint

Large Framed 20th Century Dutch School Winter Scene, John Haanstra, Oil on Board
Located in Morristown, NJ
John Haanstra (Dutch, b. 1940), signed and dated 1985 on lower right. A charming oil painting, showing a winter landscape. Skaters are enjoying seasonal fun on a frozen canal while others go about their daily activities. A typical Dutch windmill can be seen in the background. Typical Dutch style housing can be seen in the foreground. The sky seems to be laden with more snow, creating the sense of more winter fun...
Category

Vintage 1980s Dutch Modern Paintings

Materials

Wood, Paint

1980s American School Style Interior Scene of a Sitting Room Watercolor Painting
Located in Morristown, NJ
American School (20th c.), Interior scene, watercolor on paper, signed and dated "Wisner, '81" lower right. A charming, colorful and detailed representation of a beautiful room-scape. It makes me want to grab a good book and snuggle up by the fire. The framing is by The House of Heydenryk...
Category

Vintage 1980s American American Classical Drawings

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paint, Paper

You May Also Like

Fantastic Highly Detailed Large Painting by Julian Rockmore
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Incredibly detailed whimsical large canvas of a circus coming to an old American town, by artist Jullian Rockmore, signed lower left. Rockmore came from a family of artists and his w...
Category

Vintage 1980s North American Folk Art Paintings

Materials

Canvas

J. Bonin Painting "Au pays du Mont-Blanc" - December 1992, Signed - 2Y77
Located in Bordeaux, FR
This exquisite oil painting by J. Bonin, titled "Au pays du Mont-Blanc," captures the serene beauty of the Mont-Blanc region with its majestic mountains and charming chalet. Painted ...
Category

1990s French Empire Antiquities

Materials

Canvas

Cliff Astin British folk artist painting circa 1971
Located in San Francisco, CA
Cliff Astin British folk artist painting circa 1971 Oil on masonite Memories of Burnley
Category

Vintage 1970s Paintings

Materials

Masonite

Vintage Oil Painting of Taufkirchen, Bavaria, Alexander Michael 1975
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Oil Painting of Taufkirchen, Bavaria, Alexander Michael 1975 A framed oil painting depicting the view to the winterly bavarian village Taufkirchen near Munich. The artwork i...
Category

Vintage 1970s German Other Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Paint

Painting by Ballesteros, Oil on Canvas, 1974
Located in Barcelona, ES
Painting by Ballesteros, 1974. Oil on canvas. Handsigned and dated. In original condition, with some visible signs of previous use and age, preserving a beautiful patina....
Category

Vintage 1970s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas

Oil on Canvas Signed "P. Freedman, 1974"
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Colorful island scene depicting roadside stand by P. Freedman, 1974. Please confirm item location (NY or NJ) with dealer.
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Folk Art Paintings

Materials

Canvas