Pennsylvania Sleigh Ride Folk Art Oil Painting on Canvas

The Reverend Samuel Blimline (1900-1994) of Mohnton, Berks County, Pennsylvania was the artist of this beautiful folk art oil painting on canvas. The scene depicts a snowy scene with a horse-drawn sleigh carrying a couple up a sweeping driveway to the large, handsome red-brick home at the top of the hill. 

Reverend Blimline painted this in 1982 when he was 82 years old and living in Mohnton. He signed it lower right "S. (B)limline  1982" on the painting itself. Note that he omitted the first letter of his last name. We sold another painting by Blimline with the same signature that included the letter "B."

The wooden frame is a unique handmade one. It's constructed of pine and painted a dark brown with a pale blue inner liner that's overlaid with handcut rectangles painted gold. There is a narrow wood frame painted gray and then an innermost one painted gold. On the back, the canvas is secured with iron nails that have rusted.

The framed measurements are 21.5 inches high by 31 inches wide and it weighs 3.75 pounds. The painting is in very good condition with no damage or missing paint. The frame is made of used pieces of wood and is very rustic and appropriate for the painting. It's obvious that Reverend Blimline worked with what he had on hand. 

This painting that was created by a rural Pennsylvania minister is a superb find for those who appreciate folk art. 

A few biographical notes: 

Reverend Blimline is buried in the Emmanuel Cemetery (aka Temple Meeting House Cemetery) in Knauers, Berks County, PA, possibly the church he pastored. 

Included in the Historic Preservation Plan of Berks County---at the time we were researching this ---was "Sammy Blimline's Church," listed for restoration. 

In 1954, Reverend Blimline and his wife Elsie traveled to Smyrna, Delaware for the wedding of their son, Curtis W. Blimline. (from the Smyrna Times newspaper dated 1/7/54). 

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