Description
An exceptional original oil painting by celebrated Wilmington, Delaware artist Edward Loper Sr. (American, 1916–2011). Signed lower right, this striking composition demonstrates Loper’s distinctive approach to color, structure, and perspective, with the subject broken into strong geometric planes and layered passages of deep black, blue, green, ochre, rose, and earth tones.
Loper developed a highly recognizable modernist style influenced by his study of European masters, particularly Paul Cézanne and Henri Matisse. His exposure to these artists at the Barnes Foundation helped transform both his palette and the structural organization of his paintings. (Delaware Art Museum)
The painting measures 36 1/2″ x 23″ and is presented in an impressive frame measuring 43 3/4″ x 30 3/4″ overall. Its substantial scale, dramatic palette, and architectural composition make it an excellent statement piece for a private residence, office, or established collection of American and Delaware art.
Artist: Edward Loper Sr. (American, 1916–2011)
Medium: Oil on Panel
Signature: Signed Lower Right
Artwork Dimensions: 36 1/2″ x 23″
Framed Dimensions: 43 3/4″ x 30 3/4″
Condition: Please contact Stuart Kingston for additional condition information.
About Edward Loper Sr.
Edward Loper Sr. (1916–2011) was a prominent American painter and teacher and is regarded as one of Delaware’s most celebrated artists. Born on Wilmington’s East Side, Loper began his professional artistic career working for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) from 1936 to 1941. Although largely self-taught, he studied the great masters extensively and later attended the Barnes Foundation, where his exposure to Cézanne, Matisse, and other modern painters had a significant influence on his use of color and composition. (Delaware Art Museum)
Loper became known for his vibrant palette and distinctive method of constructing scenes through intersecting planes of color and form. He was also an influential teacher who instructed generations of artists. His relationship with the Delaware Art Museum was especially significant: when the museum acquired his After a Shower in 1937, it became the first work by an African American artist to enter the museum’s collection. (Delaware Art Museum)
Today, Loper is an important figure in Delaware and American art history, and his work can be found in significant institutional collections. (Petrucci Family Foundation)
