Lot 915: James Mallory Willson (American/Florida,

James Mallory Willson (American/Florida, 1890-1968), "Along the Florida Beach", oil on canvas affixed to board, signed and dated "39" lower right, 16 in. x 20 in., in a period frame.

Note: Born in Kissimmee, Florida, James Mallory Willson had a long and productive tenure as a professor of painting and drawing at the Norton School of Art in West Palm Beach. A gifted artist, Willson studied at the Students' Art League, National Academy of Design, and Académie Colarossi in Paris. The natural beauty and scenic sights of Florida during the mid-twentieth century inspired the artist. As a faculty member and artist, Willson immersed himself in the local art community and participated in the Florida Artists Group traveling exhibition, and exhibited with the Palm Beach Art League, Palm Beach County Art Club, and Norton Gallery. This colorful painting depicts a balmy day along the pristine "Old Florida" shore, prior to the development it would undergo in the later years of the century.