Label
Rolla Sims Taylor 1872 - 1970
Ferry Landing, Saugatuck Michigan c. 1920s | oil on canvas board
Rolla Sims Taylor, originally from Galveston, Texas, started painting at the age of 14. Before arriving in San Antonio, Texas in 1889, the Taylor family spent several years in Houston and then traveled to Cuero, Texas by covered wagon. Taylor graduated from the Cuero Institute and later studied in San Antonio with Robert Jenkins Onderdonk, Jose Arpa and Theodore Gentilz. Later he studied in France for three months, and with Arthur W. Best in San Francisco, and Frederick F. Fursman at Saugatuck, Michigan. Taylor painted in the impressionist style, lively with color and flooded with sunlight. His subjects were mostly old buildings, shacks, landscapes, San Antonio River scenes, missions, blooming cactus and scenes of old Mexico. Many of his paintings are now of historic interest that recorded buildings that no longer exist. The “ferry shack” pictured above sat on the east bank of the Kalamazoo River in Saugatuck, Michigan. Here a ticket could be purchased to cross the river by chain ferry or ferry scow. (adapted from the Archives of askArt)
Collection: Saugatuck Douglas History Center
Gift of: Purchased for the collection by members of the Saugatuck-Douglas History Center
