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Davis Francis Schwartz (1879–1969)
Oil on Canvas
16 x 20 inches
Original larger frame
Craquelure, grime, and stains
Signed Davis Francis Schwartz 1942 lower right
Exhibition sticker (partial) remnant en verso – “…In Art (1943) Annual”, “…of Honor of San Francisco” and partial artist name with building. Identified as the Society for Sanity in Art
From a Chicagoland estate
American (1879-1969) About the artist: Davis Francis Schwartz was born in Paris, Kentucky in 1879. He studied at the Chicago Art Institute, and then at art schools in Dayton and Cleveland, Ohio; he then spent three years in Montreal studying under Adam S. Scott. He worked as a commercial illustrator in Ohio for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He moved to California in 1903 and worked for the Los Angeles Times before moving to San Francisco in 1924. In 1924 he was elected artist for the State Bord of Harbor Commissioners. Davis Schwartz established his studio in the Ferry Building and for 30 years acted as custodian of the huge relief map of the State of California there. The relief map was huge, two football fields in length, and required an artist’s full time effort to maintain it. In the October 3, 2010 issue of the San Francisco Chronicle, the map has made news again. It is now the stored property of the Port of SF, and they don’t know what to do with it. During the 1940’s, Davis Schwartz sometimes signed his works “Francis Davis” due to anti-German sentiment. He worked in both oil and watercolor and won many awards. His memberships included the Carmel Art Association, Oakland Art Association, Santa Cruz Art League, and Society of Western Artists. His works are held by the California Historical Society, St. Mary’s College, the State Museum Resource Center (Sacramento), and Shasta State Historical Museum. Source: Artists in California 1786 – 1940, Edan Milton Hughes, 3d ed. Davis Francis Schwartz follow artist Davis Francis Schwartz American (18791969) (1 works) follow artist About the artist: Davis Francis Schwartz was born in Paris, Kentucky in 1879. He studied at the Chicago Art Institute, and then at art schools in Dayton and Cleveland, Ohio; he then spent three years in Montreal studying under Adam S. Scott.
The Society for Sanity in Art was an American artist’s society whose members strongly opposed all forms of modern art, including cubism, surrealism, and abstract expressionism. The purpose of the Society for Sanity in Art was to encourage and promote sane and competent art, regardless of “school” or style. It was founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1936 by Josephine Hancock Logan and the first meeting was in March 1938. The society eventually expanded to most U.S. cities and the San Francisco branch along with the Boston branch were two of the largest branches. The first national art exhibition by the society took place in May 1939 in Chicago. The San Francisco chapter began in 1939 and this exhibition at the Legion of Honor was their first. They would continue to hold annual exhibitions by its members at the Legion until 1946.
Source: Fine Art Museums of San Francisco