Albert Thomas DeRome

Palo Colorado, South of Carmel, c. 1934

• Oil on panel
• 10" x 14", artwork
• 14.75" x 18.75" x 2.25", framed
• Historic

$4,800

Provenance
Acquired by a private collector, Palo Alto, San Carlos, and Oceanside, California, from Bingham Gallery, Fairmont Hotel, San Jose, California; By descent to a private collector, Encino, California; Consigned to American Legacy Fine Arts, Pasadena, California.

Description
Well known for his evocative depictions of the Monterey Peninsula, Albert Thomas DeRome captures in this intimate oil painting the rugged beauty of Palo Colorado Canyon, a densely wooded enclave in the Santa Lucia Mountains just south of Carmel, California. Painted in 1934, the work exemplifies DeRome’s sensitive approach to California’s coastal landscape, distinguished by harmonious color relationships, carefully layered composition, and the interplay of sunlit ridges, shadowed pines, and distant blue hills.

DeRome’s nuanced palette of muted greens, warm earth tones, and soft cerulean blues, evokes the shifting atmospherics of the region, where coastal fog and crisp mountain air blend to create a unique clarity of light. His brushwork alternates between softly blended passages and crisp, textural strokes, capturing both the tranquility and vitality of the canyon. The result is a meditative portrait of one of California’s most treasured natural settings, rendered by an artist with deep personal and artistic ties to the region.

Historical Significance
Albert Thomas DeRome was a key figure among early 20th-century California Impressionists, celebrated for his depictions of the Central Coast and its inland valleys. A Monterey resident for much of his career, DeRome painted extensively in Carmel, Pacific Grove, Big Sur, and the surrounding mountains. His work bridges traditional plein air realism with a heightened sensitivity to atmospheric mood, often focusing on less-traveled, pristine locations like Palo Colorado Canyon—an area known for its towering redwoods, chaparral-clad slopes, and sweeping views toward the Pacific. DeRome’s paintings serve as both artistic achievements and historical records of a landscape that has changed little since his time, embodying the spirit of California’s natural heritage at a moment when plein air painting flourished as a defining artistic movement in the West.

Framing
Presented in a substantial, gilded wood frame with a wide, stepped profile and softly rounded inner bevels, this frame reflects the early-to-mid 20th-century plein air tradition. The warm, burnished gold finish, with subtle patination and fine speckling, offers a sophisticated yet unobtrusive complement to the painting. The frame’s craftsmanship and weight enhance the composition’s depth and luminosity while providing a historically sympathetic and gallery-ready presentation.

Condition
Excellent, original condition. The paint surface is stable and vibrant, with no signs of inpainting or overcleaning. The frame is in equally fine condition, with only minimal signs of handling.

Exhibited
Scenic Route: A Half Century of California Discovery, 1900-1950, American Legacy Fine Arts, Pasadena, California, August 15 - October 11, 2025

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