Large Ancient Bristlecone Pine Oil Pastel Painting - $1,300 (Johnston, Rhode Island)

Large Ancient Bristlecone Pine Oil Pastel Painting 1 thumbnail

condition: excellent

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Welcome. For your consideration is a large original oil pastel painting of the remains of an ancient Bristlecone Pine tree. This dramatic landscape was painted in a modernist manner by Rhode Island artist Ralph E. Williams (1930-2021). There is an inscription on the back of the painting indicating this was painted in the White Mountains of California. This Bristlecone pine is referred to as the "Ancient One and Methusela" named for an Old Testament figure who lived 969 years. The Pinus longaeva's exact whereabouts remain a closely guarded scientific secret, but you can wonder through the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest within Inyo National Forest in search of it. If you stumble upon the ancient one, it will be clinging to the sheer arid mountains that jut from the desert floor. The ancient one is believed to be approximately 4500 to 5000 years old, making it the oldest known non-cloned organism on Earth.

Please call me @ show contact info with any questions or to view the painting with no obligations to buy. Thank you, Tom.

The pastel painting was completed on a black "Alpha" mat panel and signed and dated by the artist on the lower right, Ralph Williams 2/13/1988. The painting also has an original exhibition label on the back. The label does not indicate what exhibition it was entered into but the artist was known to have exhibited at the Wickford Art Festival in Rhode Island. The label also has the artist's name, the title of the painting "4500 year old Bristlecone Pine" and the original price of $3750.00. I've had the good fortune of acquiring several Ralph Williams paintings directly from his estate. In my opinion, this particular painting, out of all the paintings the artist kept for his own private collection, is the best one I have ever seen!

This painting is in very good condition. Under a black light it shows no signs of paint loss, in-painting or repair. Together with the original frame the painting measures 34" wide x 43" in height. The handsome frame is in very good condition.

As for the artist, Ralph E. Williams was born in Rhode Island in 1930. Ralph was a prolific painter, known especially for his pastel landscapes and seascapes. He loved to paint, so much so that he was known to produce two to three paintings a week. When he wasn't painting, he and his wife Millicent where traveling with Ralph continuing to paint while in the midst of their adventures. Back in Rhode Island Ralph became one of the founding members on the Wickford Art Association, which was established in 1962. The Wickford Art Association hosts the prestigious Wickford Art Festival every summer in the quaint seaside village. The festival is considered one of the premier art festivals in the country. Ralph was on the first artists to show his work in the associations gallery. Ralph Williams passed away 2021.

Again, please call me @ show contact info with any questions or to view the painting with no obligations to buy. Thank you, Tom.

post id: 7871766802

posted: 2025-08-07 05:19

updated: 2025-10-24 04:12

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