California Style Art and Fashion from the California Historical Society at the Autry National Center
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California Style

Roping the Bear, Santa margarita Rancho of Juan Forster by James Walker part of the California Style exhibit at The Autry National Center
Title: Roping the Bear, Santa margarita Rancho of Juan Forster, c. 1870,
Artist: James Walker (American 1818–1889)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 23.75 x 40.125 in.
Image Courtesy: The Autry National Center

Art and Fashion from the California Historical Society
Autry National Center
Los Angeles, California
March 10 - May 27, 2007

Classic Californian and Western American paintings accompany sumptuous ball gowns and magnificent nineteenth-century wedding dresses, offering an invaluable glimpse of life, land, work, and fashion during this unique period in California Style: Art and Fashion from the California Historical Society

Red Dress
Title: Woman's Evening Dress, c. 1883
Medium: Velvet, Satin, Metal
California Historical Society Collections at the Autry National Center
Image Courtesy: The Autry National Center

Opulence in dress was one way to spend the vast riches some had achieved through their success with the Gold Rush and the decades of growth following closely behind.

The nouveau riche Californians built grand houses, bought art in record numbers, and dressed in the latest styles of New York and Paris.

Albert Bierstadt's On the Merced River
Title: On the Merced River
Artist: Albert Bierstadt (American 1830-1902)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 36 x 52 in.
Image Courtesy: The Autry National Center

Illustrating life from a century ago, a key component of the exhibit, is the re-creation of a private parlor from the 1880s, with lush curtains and period-style architectural details evoking the feeling of an affluent Victorian-era fashionable Californian home. A mannequin wearing the formal dress of the era invites the visitor to enter the room as if a party was in progress.

Haying in Marin County by William Keith part of the California Style exhibit at The Autry National Center
Title: Haying in Marin County, 1873
Artist: William Keith (American 1838 - 1911)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 20.5 x 28.25 in.
California Historical Society, gift of H.C. Moffitt
Image Courtesy: The Autry National Center

Still-life paintings, landscapes, and other scenes of abundance, including those from renowned artists Albert Bierstadt, James Walker, and Maynard Dixon, fill the walls as they would have done in the home of a wealthy art collector.

Sunshine and Rain by Maynard Dixon part of California Style exhibit at The Autry National Center
Title: Sunshine and Rain, 1916
Artist: Maynard Dixon
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 20.125 x 30.25 in.
California Historical Society, San Francisco, Louis Sloss, Jr., Collection.
Photo by M. Lee Fatherree.
Image Courtesy: The Autry National Center

“Through this extraordinary exhibition visitors will rediscover the magnificent signature art and costume design of Victorian-era California,” said John Gray, President and CEO of the Autry National Center. “We are thrilled to be showing these unique objects to Los Angeles for the first time.”

Snowstorm in the Sierra by William Hahn part of California Style exhibit at The Autry National Center
Title: Snowstorm in the Sierra, 1876
Artist: Willam Hahn
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 21 x 33 in.
California Historical Society, San Francisco.
Gift of Mrs. Eric Gerson.
Image Courtesy: The Autry National Center

The refined taste of some of the wealth from the Wild West is on display at the Autry National Center beginning March 30, 2007.

California Style:
Art and Fashion from the California Historical Society
Autry National Center : Museum of the American West:
March 30 - May 27, 2007

Autry National Center

www.autrynationalcenter.com

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