Original One of One JOHN KING “A Paris Street” Oil on Parchment Painting for Sale

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Original One of One JOHN KING “A Paris Street” Oil on Parchment Painting For Sale

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Original One of One JOHN KING “A Paris Street” Oil on Parchment Painting:
$2200.00

Original One of One JOHN KING “A Paris Street” Oil on Parchment

~ This piece is titled “A Paris Street,” though that title does not appear on the painting.

~ This is an original one of one (one of a kind)

BACKGROUND

Ahhh….this painting has a history, one that, unfortunately, because of sentimental and personal reasons, I cannot fully disclose. I will say that it was purchased as a wedding gift for a couple soon to be married. The marriage, alas, did not survive as well as the painting did, and it was gifted to me in the early 1990s. The giver knew my tastes in art — whimsy, color, lightheartedness, quirkiness — and of course, Paris, my dream away from reality.

I immediately looked up its maker. How I love an artist who simply creates! Who doesn’t spend time marketing, managing, manipulating a career. You like it? You want it? You buy it. Or don’t. I will just sit in my casket company and make more. So perfectly odd. I love it!

I can say I have cherished this beautiful painting for many years. I always felt that it was destined to be mine; destined to hang in the room of my first-born child, destined to take me back to the place of my dreams each time I sat in front of it, as I did for many, many years.

But my son is grown and gone, the nursery now an office, and the painting in storage (as so many of my treasures have been) for 20 years.

I invite a new aficionado to whisk it away to another happy home. You can conjure your own stories, and fall asleep in front of it, and dream of the City of Love, the City of Lights — the place where people flock to fall in love — with the city, with the culture, and with their forever person.

ABOUT JOHN KING

The only thing I can find documenting the career of John King comes from his own website: [link removed by ]. And, like him, it is a quirky and funny summation of his work and artistry:

“My figurative work comes from the well of art history and human history, its high points and foibles, mixed with a large dash of humor. Bosch and Goya are touchstones, as are a number of contemporary artists. Mine is a slightly oblique look at our work.

The landscapes result from my time off for good behavior from my studio in the American Burial Casket Co. building in Oakland. They are images from the western United States, Mexico, and Europe.”

John King, 2019

THE PAINTING ITSELF

What immediately stands out about this painting is the vibrant color. Brilliant yellow, blue and green primary hues are complemented by warm orange, pink and purple — with a lime green sky. It makes one wonder: Are these colors the product of John King’s so-vivid imagination — the colors of his own fantastical mental palette? Or were they the actual reality that he saw one day as he traversed a Parisian street? In any case, they are a wonder to behold, their combination both whimsical and soothing.

This piece hung in the nursery of my oldest child. We sat occasionally, making up stories about the scene in front of us. The woman reading serenely in her straight-backed chair. Where did the chair come from? Did she bring it with her? It certainly isn’t a park bench. And what is she reading — a newspaper? Not a book, obviously. My son once conjectured, when he was older, that it was in fact a menu, and she was about to step across the street for an afternoon lunch. He always marveled at the cars parked on the sidewalk. Commonplace in Europe but pretty much unheard of — at least legally — in this country. Did one of the cars belong to her? Did she pull up, pull out her chair and sit down for a pleasant afternoon on a warm sunny day? Or are they, in fact, taxis, waiting for a fare?

And what of the dog? Is it hers? Is it a street dog that makes its way from kitchen to kitchen, doorstep to doorstep, certain to find his next meal? He certainly looks content and worry-free.

This painting can bring the peaceful mood of a tree-lined Parisian street into any room. I can’t even begin to count the hours spent contemplating this painting. The three different kinds of trees that line the sun-dappled street, with what look like (but are they in fact?) mountains in the background. That would certainly belie the painting’s name.

In any case, this painting holds many happy memories for me. Long after my son had nodded off, I sat, rocking in my chair with him heavily in my lap, drifting off to a sunny day in beautiful Paris, where I had been many times, but not in many years. It was a visit to one of my favorite spots in the world that I could take without ever entering an airport. I could just sit in my chair and…go.

THE FRAME

This frame suits the painting perfectly. With raised glass to protect the original paper canvass, the sturdy frame is a beautiful high-gloss maple, with the canvass mounted (rather than matted) on a cream background. It’s quite a lovely job. The back is reinforced with an additional wooden frame, completely securing and protecting the original art. A thick, sturdy wire hanger extends across the back, making for easy and secure hanging.

The weight of the frame is light (as maple is), and works perfectly with the theme of the painting. A soft, lightweight “box” to hold the original and delicate sun-lit painting. Someone knew what they were doing.

CONDITION:

The painting is of course perfectly preserved in its original state. There has been no leakage into the frame or damage to the painting. It is pristine.

The frame has a very few nicks in wood — just along the edge (see photo). This no doubt happened during the move from one house to the other. Over all, the piece is in excellent condition.

SIGNATURE

The painting is signed “King” in red at the bottom right, which is how John King signs all of his work. There is no certificate of authenticity, and if you know anything about early John King, that would make sense. His studio, after all, is at the American Burial Casket Company building in Oakland, from which he periodically gets “time off for good behavior.”

CONCLUSION

Au revoir Paris Street. I will miss you. Carry your kaleidoscope colors and mysterious story to the next lucky dreamers. You have brought me great happiness and many hours of magical thinking. You have done your job with me and my children. (How does a painting inspire a child to travel to one of the most beautiful cities in the world? By creating a scene so delightful, it must be seen in person).

You have served us well, and we are most grateful.

DIMENSIONS

Weight: 12.4 pounds (5.6 kg)

Length: 3 feet (36 inches) (91.4 centimeters)

Height: 28 and 1/8 inch (72 centimeters)

Frame width: 2 inches (5 centimeters)

Exact measurement of canvass: 30x22 inches (76x56 centimeters)

~ If you have any further questions, or would like to see any additional photographs - please do not hesitate to reach out in the form of an email. I will get back to you promptly.