The Patriarchs, Florida
Print - Intaglio (Etching/Drypoint) on paper • Luigi Lucioni (Italian-American, 1900–1988) or a contemporary American Realist printmaker like Alfred Hutty.
Style & Movement
American Realism; Associated with the Etching Revival in America.
Medium & Technique
Etching and drypoint on cream wove paper; features fine line-work, cross-hatching, and burr effects consistent with drypoint to create tonal depth in the gnarly tree bark.
Creation Period
Circa 1920-1940
Dimensions & Format
Landscape format; Estimated plate size 7 x 10 inches; framed size approximately 16 x 20 inches.
Subject Description
A rural Southern landscape dominated by massive, ancient live-oak trees ('The Patriarchs') with sprawling, skeletal limbs. A small cottage or shack is visible to the right with a figure standing nearby, and a body of water with a small sailboat is in the distant background. The composition focuses on the architectural strength of nature versus humble human dwellings.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good/Very Good; The print appears well-preserved under glass, though slight mat burn and minor yellowing of the paper consistent with age are visible.
Estimated Market Value
$400 - $800 USD
Auction Estimate
$300 - $500 USD
Provenance History
Pencil-signed lower left by the artist. Likely purchased from a gallery specializing in American prints or a regional estate sale. No specific labels are visible from the front.
Art Historical Significance
This piece exemplifies the early 20th-century fascination with the American landscape and the technical mastery of the intaglio process. Works of this nature were popular during the 'Etching Revival' and were often distributed by groups like the Associated American Artists (AAA) to bring fine art to the middle class.
Notable Features
Hand-signed in pencil below the plate mark at the lower left. The title 'The Patriarchs - Fla.' is inscribed in the artist's hand. Notable for the intricate rendering of the bark's texture and the atmospheric perspective of the Florida coastline.
Condition Issues
Possible light foxing; visible mat burn (discoloration along the edge of the mat window) suggests the use of non-acid-free backing materials in the past.
Conservation Recommendations
Remount using acid-free, archival museum-grade matting and backing. Consider UV-protective glass to prevent further fading of the ink or yellowing of the paper substrata.
Collector Notes
Own it