Name/Title
Oil painting of a forest scene, by G. A. Brooks, 1922Entry/Object ID
1998.311.3Description
ACC. NO. 98.311.3
SUBJECT CATEGORY: ARTISTS
DATE OR PERIOD: 1922
OBJECT: PAINTING, FRAMED
DESCRIPTION:
OIL PAINTING OF A FOREST SCENE OF REDWOOD TREES ON CANVAS IN AN ORIGINAL ART NOUVEAU-STYLE GESSO FRAME. FRAME IS IN BURNISHED ANTIQUE GOLD, WITH GESSO RELIEF IN A MATTE GOLD. PAINTING IS SIGNED, "G A BROOKS, 1922" IN THE LOWER RIGHT-HAND CORNER.
SIZE: L 24" X - W 30”
HISTORY OF OBJECT:
INFORMATION QUOTED FROM PAPER LABEL AFFIXED TO THE BACK OF THE PAINTING IS AS FOLLOWS: "THE ARTIST, G A BROOKS, WAS GERTRUDE SNOW BROOKS (MRS S A BROOKS), WHO LIVED AT 1813 SAN ANTONIO AVE., ALAMEDA. MRS BROOKS IS LISTED AS A MEMBER OF THE ADELPHIAN CLUB IN THE 1919-1922 ROSTER FOR THE CLUB. SHE WAS ALSO WELL KNOWN AS AN ARTIST PARTICULARLY NOTED FOR HER PAINTINGS OF THE REDWOODS -- THIS ONE IS DATED 1922. FURTHER DOCUMENTATION FROM 'ARTISTS IN CALIFORNIA, 1786-1940,' BY EDAN MILTON HUGHES. THE FOLLOWING GERTRUDE A BROOKS, LANDSCAPE PAINTER, RESIDENT OF ALAMEDA AND GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA IN THE 1920'S AND 1930's, EXHIBITED AT THE OAKLAND ART GALLERY, 1928." ... THE PAINTING HUNG IN THE RECEPTION PARLOR OF THE ADELPHIAN CLUB @ CENTRAL AVENUE AND WALNUT STREET, ALAMEDA FOR MANY YEARS.
DONOR: ADELPHIAN CLUB
DATE: SEPTEMBER 19, 1998Interpretative Labels
Label
current sign (applies to 12.52.1, 12.60.1, and 98.311.3):
THREE PAINTINGS BY
ALAMEDA ARTIST
Gertrude A. Brooks
(1866 - 1947)
From left to right, a floral still life
and two redwood grove scenes.
All are oil on canvas
*****
Gertrude Anita Snow Brooks, a prominent listed California artist, was born in Vallejo but moved to Alameda with her family in 1875. As a teenager she ferried to San Francisco to study at the School of Design
under Virgil Williams. She established a studio at her home at 1813 Alameda Ave. after her marriage. A highly-skilled painter, her rare works include views of the redwoods, Chinatown, the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as still lives. Mrs. Brooks died in Alameda on February 7, 1947.Label
8/28/2022 MvL: tag on reverse: The artist, G.A. Brooks, was Gertrude Snow Brooks (Mrs. S.A. Brooks) who lived at 1813 San Antonio Avenue. Mrs. Brooks is listed as a member of the Adelphian Club in the 1919-1922 Roster for the Club. She was well known as an artist, particularly noted for her paintings of the redwoods - this one is dated 1922.
