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Estate Collection

Arthur William Best

American Artist · 1859-1935

Large Selection Available

Poppies & Lupines - California - oil on board, triptych - 11 " x 19" overall - #7060

Arthur W. Best

Arthur Best and his younger brother Harry were both born in Mt. Pleasant, Canada. As teenage musicians, they became part of a small band that made its way to Portland, Oregon in 1887. The young men were inspired by the Oregon landscape and both began to paint. Their early landscapes where somewhat rudimentary with obvious influence of William S. Parrott, Oregon’s foremost landscape painter of the late 19th century. By 1895 the two moved to San Francisco where they secured employment at the San Francisco Examiner and the Post as staff artists. They continued to study and mature as artists, eventually becoming successful. In 1895 Arthur married Alice M. Leveque, an accomplished artist in her own right. The couple established the Best Arts School. In 1901 Harry was married at the foot of Bridalveil Falls in Yosemite. The couple received permission to build a studio in the park where they lived for most of their lives. Their daughter Virginia, was wed there to Ansel Adams in 1928. Harry Best’s old studio is still in Yosemite, now the Ansel Adams Gallery.

By 1905 Arthur was commissioned by the Southern Pacific Railroad to paint for travel and tourist publicity. It was about this time that he became noted for his inspiring views of the Grand Canyon. His scenes of the Arizona desert, Sierra Nevada, Southwest and Mexico were equally impressive. Regrettably, many of these were destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire. After the earthquake Arthur painted numerous Yosemite landscapes and Marin County scenes. Arthur and Alice were now living in Oakland. They both retained a studio in Berkeley at 2419 Haste Street. Arthur painted some notable Hawaiian landscape and genre subjects, probably in 1916 and 1920, the years his brother also traveled there. Included were the eruption of Mt. Kilauea. Besides landscapes in oil, pastel and watercolor, Arthur painted portraits of Southwest Indians, plus still life subjects.

Arthur W. Best exhibited in major venues, receiving numerous awards, including a 1st prize at the Oregon State Fair in 1891. Later he exhibited at the San Francisco Art Association, Alaska-Yukon Expo and Bohemian Club, to name a few. His work is represented in a number of museums, besides notable private collections, including the Oakland Museum, University of Oregon, Charles M. Russell Gallery and others. Arthur and Alice were involved with not only art, but philosophy and political trends, much centering around Ansel Adams and his entourage. Arthur was actively painting until his death in 1935.

Matthew’s Galleries is pleased to have acquired the extensive estate collection of Arthur William Best, which includes a smaller selection of paintings by his talented wife Alice M. Leveque Best. The collection holds some of the most important paintings by Arthur Best to come on the market in many years. Our summer 2008 exhibit of more than 85 paintings is but a part of the collection; the remainder to be offered in years to come. As with any painting acquired from Matthew’s Galleries, all work is guaranteed authentic, documented, and may be offered back to the gallery for full price trade-up in years to come. Lay-a-way terms are also available. This major acquisition presents an obvious opportunity to collectors and museums & dealers.

Partially illustrated four-color brochure mailed upon request.

Rocky Stream & Waterfalls - oil on board 20" x 26" - #7130 Yavapai Point, Grand Canyon - oil on canvas 30" x 40" - dated 1904 - SOLD Hawaiian Scene - oil on canvas 14" x 20" - #7076 - SOLD Woman in Rowboat - pastel 9 1/4" x 11 3/8" - #7065