Paul Sawyier "Main Street Trolley" #'d Print Mint/COA

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Main Street Trolley 1900 by Paul Sawyier Published by Paul Sawyier Galleries in 1991 #'s Print 3203/5000--- Certification Stock Photo for best viewing and detail Never Framed/Mint Condition Image Size: 13 x 20" Paper Size: 16 1/4" X 22 1/2" Pkg/shipping/insurance $10 Collector Value $335 Starting Bid: $89.99 Wow!!! About the print: Founded in 1786, Frankfort, Ky, has always been more than just another medium-sized town or just another state capital. Since the 1700's, it's had a mystique and magic that no one has been able to explain adequately in words. Movers and shakers of American history have lived and met in Frankfort. It was here that VP Aaron Burr (who had killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel) was tried twice for conspiracy against the US; Wm Goebel was assassinated here on the day the legislature declared him governor and, it is here that Daniel Boone finally is at rest overlooking the city. Although not a large town, Frankfort had always been bigger than life in the minds of the people. This is where the action is, where the deals are struck, where the final decisions affecting the Commonweath of Kentucky are made. Frankfort has always had more than its share of excitement (man-made and natural), more than its share of national leaders, and more than its share of beautiful architecture. Although all of this had never been captured in words, Paul Sawyier, Ky's premier artist, captured that special mystique and magic from at the turn of the 20th century. This painting, at the corner of Main and Ann Street conveys all the majesty and elegance of Frankfort. On the right side of the painting, strollers brave the rain in front of the stately protico of the Old Capital Hotel, one of the most important meeting spots for influential Kentuckians from its opening in December 1854 until it burned in 1917. The State National Bank now stands on the same corner. Meanwhile, on the left of the painting, patrons line-up to board Frnakfort's elecric trolley. Frankfort's original trolleys were pulled by mules, which were replaced by electric horsepower on March 28, 1894. In addition to being one of Sawyier's more attractive paintings, this is one of his most historic paintings; indeed, the only known Sawyier to depict a trolley. It also illustrates his exceptional skills at painting rainy scenes in such a way as to make one want to get an unbrella after viewing it. No, writers have yet to depict the mystique and magic of Frankfort. That has been Paul Sawyier's finest legacy to KY. About the artist: Paul Sawyier was born in 1865 near London, Ohio and lived on a farm for his first five years. In 1870, the family moved to Frankfort, Ky. to live with his maternal grandmother Wingate. His father also had his medical practice in their home on Broadway and Elk's Alley, near the entrance to the new Kentucky Historical Center, 10 West Broadway. Sawyier's painting career began about 1890. He was trained mainly in portraiture by Thomas Noble and Frank Duveneck in the Cincinati, Ohio area and by Wm Merritt Chase in New York. Initially, Sawyier made his living by painting portraits of local individuals, including Governor Charles Scott. It is estimated that he did about fifty portraits, mainly in pastel. By 1900, Sawyier was painting landscapes in the "impressionist" style. He did multiple versions of scenes of the road leading up Lousiville Hill, (Blacksmith's Shop) near Second Street School and of the streets of downtown Frankfort (Main Street Trolly). In 1913, Sawyier sought new markets for his pintings and moved to Brooklyn, New York where he lived with his widowed sister. His paintins were primarily in oil, and of scenes of the local parks (A Rainy Day in the Park) and baed on photograps, scenes from Ky (Lover's Leap II). In 1915, he moved to the Catskill resort area and lived first in Highmount (Countryside). After about a year, he moved in with the Schaefer family in Fleishmanns, NY. This community was similar to his... read more

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