Folk Artist Josephine D’Alvia Orig Oil on Board Depicts Blacksmith Shop 1909 Croton Dam

Description

ITEM DESCRIPTION:
The New Croton Dam was built largely by immigrant labor. The majority of the workers were Italians; others … more ITEM DESCRIPTION:
The New Croton Dam was built largely by immigrant labor. The majority of the workers were Italians; others were Irish, African Americans and Scandinavians. They lived in a number of small communities in and around the work site and in boarding houses located in the village of Croton Landing. Mary Josephine D’Alvia (1913-2000) created a series of paintings from stories her mother told of living and working on the building of the Croton Dam in Croton-On-Hudson,NY. This is true outsider art, at its finest. These paintings depicted the stone masons and the people who built the damn. Many were recruited on Ellis Island. They all lived in housing on the site where there were various shops and services. This painting is of John Swanson’s Blacksmith Shop in the hill next to the spillway.
Josephine was an untrained artist and author of The History Of The New Croton Dam, 1976. This book is in the Smithsonian Library.
The painting is signed lower left,1977. Oil on board in a gold, wood frame. A collection of ‘Josie’s’ paintings was exhibited at the Sweetwater & Salttide Art Gallery in Peekskill, NY on her 80th birthday. In excellent condition, with period wear and patina, no serious damage or repairs.
Please note the following item specifics:
OVERALL SIZE IN INCHES:
Frame: 28 wide x 24 high x 3 deep
Art: 24x19
COLOR: Multicolors
YEAR: 1977
OVERALL CONDITION (SEE SCALE BELOW):
CONDITION:C7-Excellent
MATERIAL:Oil on board, wood frame
ARTIST: Mary Josephine D'Alvia

CONDITION GRADING SCALE: C10-New, never used. C9-Mint C8-Near mint C7-Excellent C6-Very [XX24XX-9LBS-32x27x4]

TAGS:
Josephine Dalvia original oil paint folk art outsider art Croton Dam NY Blacksmiths Shop stone masons life immigrant labor building Croton Dam early 1900s life Croton On Hudson Signed oil painting Ellis Island less