Ernest Fredericks Landscape Oil Painting
Item Details
Ernest Fredericks (Arkansas/Illinois; 1877-1959)
Untitled, early-mid 20th century
Oil painting on canvas
Signed to the lower left
Ernest Fredericks (American, 1877-1959) was born to Swedish immigrants, in
McPherson, Kansas. His birth name was Frederick Ernest Swedlun. When he
moved to Chicago to study art, he changed his name to Ernest Fredericks, to
avoid the prejudice and danger that threatened Swedish immigrants in Chicago
at the time.
Following his studies at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, as a member of the
Chicago Society of Artists, Fredericks exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago, as
well as in Cincinnati and East-coast cities. In l940, the Chicago Daily News,
covering an exhibition of his paintings, gave such praise to his work as a
landscape artist, that his career was launched, and flourished.
In l950, inspired by the beauty of the Ozarks, which he described as “an artist’s
gold mine of color and composition,” he moved his family to Eureka Springs,
Arkansas, where he resumed his real name, signing his paintings as Fred
Swendlun. He continued to paint and teach art with his son, Glenn
Swedlun—also a painter—until his death in l959.
(Note: This painting was professionally cleaned and secured by Terry Boyle, at the
Collectors Art Group, 225 East 6th Street, Cincinnati, Ohio.)
- Proceeds from this item will benefit the University of Cincinnati,
College-Conservatory of Music scholarship fund through Music For All Seasons.
Condition
- wear to edges of frame; minor surface wear present to painting; dust and accretions present to painting and frame.
Dimensions
- measures frame; visible image measures 19.5" W x 15.5" H.
Item #
ITMG422142