Oil
16 X 20
Judy Vars
My “Cave Girl” was reproduced after Alaska’s most renowned artists,
Sydney Mortimer Laurence. I was interested in studying his tonalist methods and
the overall atmosphere of this painting. Sydney Lawrence has always been
somewhat of an enigma with many stories and myths surrounding him. Gold Fever
lured him to Alaska in 1903 and in 1912 he resumed painting.
“Cave Woman” is a
diversion from Sydney’s usual style which is very large landscapes and one of the few paintings which feature the human figure as the main focus. Sydney was a
romantic painter in the style of the late 19th century romantic period artists,
he is best known for his use of light and the massive scale of his paintings
needed to capture Mt. McKinley and the Alaskan landscape. This and many more of
his original paintings are displayed at the Alaska Heritage Museum, inside the Wells
Fargo Bank, 301 West Northern Lights Blvd, Anchorage, Alaska. The museum
manager, Tom D. Bennett was kind enough to allow me to take photographs of this
painting; he informed me this was in the home of the President of the Alaska
Railroad for years before becoming part of the Rasmuson’s permanent collection
and is worth an estimated $150,000.00.
I have been unable to locate any other pictures of this work, however
prints were made.
The original painting is large 40 x 60 (approximately) and
contained is a grand gold baroque frame with electric candle sconces on each side;
this I imagine created a mysterious flickering effect on the painting when
turned on. I am on the hunt for a frame for this when I find it I plan to make
candle sconces on each side, I will then take a video of this for your viewing
pleasure. Or better yet come to Alaska and see it for yourself.
