The Reverend Samuel Blimline (1900-1994) of Mohnton, Berks County, Pennsylvania was the artist of this dramatic original naive oil painting on artist's board. The scene depicts an angel on a rocky ledge overlooking a landscape with a river and mountains. Two small barefoot girls stand with the angel; one of them is releasing a large butterfly. Oddly, the girls appear to be wearing matching clerical collars.
According to the information handwritten on the back of the painting, Reverend Blimline painted this in 1986 when he was 86 years old and living in Mohnton. He signed it lower left "S. Blimline" on the painting itself with a somewhat confusing five-digit number alongside.
The wooden frame is a handmade, homemade one. It's constructed of pine and painted a dark brown with a painted gold inner liner. On the back, the artist's board is secured between the frame and another pine frame that's unpainted and allows the artwork to project from the wall 2 inches.
The framed measurements are 21 inches high by 26 inches wide. The sight size is 16 1/2 inches by 21 1/2 inches and it weighs 4 pounds. The painting is in very good condition with no damage or missing paint. The frame is very rustic, with a small chip out of the wood of the joining seam at the upper left corner (it's painted over) and a small nail sticking out on the side there. It's obvious that Reverend Blimline worked with what he had on hand.
We have to wonder if this painting represents a dream or a vision that the Reverend felt he needed to capture. That is the very definition of naive art...subjects that are personal and compel the artist to express himself/herself...art that is created by self-taught artists lacking formal training, with a childlike, simple aesthetic and bright colors. This painting that was created by a rural Pennsylvania minister is a superb find for those who appreciate naive 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).
© PrimpingYourHome.com
PYH 5811
The Reverend Samuel Blimline (1900-1994) of Mohnton, Berks County, Pennsylvania was the artist of this dramatic original naive oil painting on artist's board. The scene depicts an angel on a rocky ledge overlooking a landscape with a river and mountains. Two small barefoot girls stand with the angel; one of them is releasing a large butterfly. Oddly, the girls appear to be wearing matching clerical collars.
According to the information handwritten on the back of the painting, Reverend Blimline painted this in 1986 when he was 86 years old and living in Mohnton. He signed it lower left "S. Blimline" on the painting itself with a somewhat confusing five-digit number alongside.
The wooden frame is a handmade, homemade one. It's constructed of pine and painted a dark brown with a painted gold inner liner. On the back, the artist's board is secured between the frame and another pine frame that's unpainted and allows the artwork to project from the wall 2 inches.
The framed measurements are 21 inches high by 26 inches wide. The sight size is 16 1/2 inches by 21 1/2 inches and it weighs 4 pounds. The painting is in very good condition with no damage or missing paint. The frame is very rustic, with a small chip out of the wood of the joining seam at the upper left corner (it's painted over) and a small nail sticking out on the side there. It's obvious that Reverend Blimline worked with what he had on hand.
We have to wonder if this painting represents a dream or a vision that the Reverend felt he needed to capture. That is the very definition of naive art...subjects that are personal and compel the artist to express himself/herself...art that is created by self-taught artists lacking formal training, with a childlike, simple aesthetic and bright colors. This painting that was created by a rural Pennsylvania minister is a superb find for those who appreciate naive 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).
© PrimpingYourHome.com
PYH 5811
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