Updated:
July 20, 2007
he most spectacular painting in the Mission Inn is by artist William Keith. Titled the “California Alps,” it is not of one particular place, but Keith’s idealized version of the mountains and valleys inspired by places like Yosemite National Park. The diverse landscape of California attracted others, including naturalist John Muir. Muir and Keith were both born in Scotland. They were good friends.
California’s unique and diverse landscapes, provides many opportunities for artists. European trained artists, who often established studios in New York, Boston, and other eastern cities, were attracted to the state’s mountains, deserts, coastlines, and rolling hills. In the late 19 th century and early 20 th century, a type of art form originating in Europe called Plein Air, became popular among the landscape artists in California. Plien Air is a French word or term for “in the open air.” The artists often traveled great distances to set up their easels in the out of doors. They worked quickly in order to capture the light and shadows.
Frank Miller’s art collection also included desert scenes and a painting of an area overlooking the Pacific Ocean, near Miller’s Laguna Beach home. Many of the artists were to became well known, including William Wendt, Geoffrey Holt, and Arthur H. Gilbert. |
