Excellent Southern Folk Art Bird's Eye View of a Town, Probaby Tullahoma, TN

Item Details

An excellent southern folk art bird’s eye view of a town, probably Tullahoma, Tennessee. This naively executed oil on canvas depicts an active scene of everyday life in a small, rural town. Included in the composition are several buildings with nearby horse-drawn carriages, as well as a number of townsfolk and animals. It is housed in its original, lemon-gilt frame, which is ready to hang with a wire on the back. The verso retains a typed note detailing restorations done in 1975.

Founded in 1852, Tullahoma, Tennessee was originally settled as a farming community; however, due to its central location within the state as well as its close proximity to the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, it gained prominence as a strategic outpost during the Civil War. During the aptly named Tullahoma Campaign, the Confederate Army of Tennessee was driven out by the Union Army of the Cumberland, prior to its seize of Chattanooga.

According to the consignor, the building in the center, mid-ground was the original Tullahoma post office and, purportedly, the man standing next to the open doorway is Archibald Yell (1797-1847), the eventual Second Governor of Arkansas and the consignor’s great-great-grandfather. Yell grew up in Eastern Tennessee before relocating to Rutherford County and, subsequently, Bedford County. Bedford County borders Tullahoma, which is located on the border of Coffee, Franklin, and Moore Counties.

Condition

- to fair; painting is relined with wax; paint is cracked throughout; frame finish is cracked along the lower edge, discolored in spots and has several chips.

Dimensions

- measurements of the frame, visible image 13.75" W x 9.25" H.

Item #

17NAS051-429