Here’s a beauty from one of the state’s greats. In early California’s popular eucalyptus painting genre, this 24″ x 18″ watercolor by Marion Kavanagh Wachtel (1876 – 1954) is hard to beat. “Sunset,” is not dated, but is believed to have been done in the 1910’s.
I proposed the frame design for the customer, California Historical Design, with the sketch at right, and Trevor Davis built the 3-1/2″ wide mitered frame in quartersawn white oak (Dark Chestnut Stain), with a carved gilt liner. Sam finished the frame and gilded the slip. Carved cushion forms on the sight edge and back edge complement the smooth low sloping cove, and repeat the rounded tree forms. As you can see in the sketch and the oblique view below, the back is cut in and sweeps out dramatically. The dark frame takes its color from the deepest shadows, enhancing the orange glow of the sunset.
Another Marion Wachtel watercolor we framed is in the Portfolio, here.
We also recently framed this 10″ x 12″ oil painting by Marion Wachtel for California Historical Design (available here). This frame’s a 2-1/2″ wide slope with a carved back-beveled back edge and parcel gilt chamfer at the sight edge. Whereas the mood and tones of the watercolor above called for a softer, more graceful profile, the more rugged subject matter of this oil inspired a more angular form.
