Rider, Arthur Grover (1886-1975).

Valencia Shore by Arthur Grover Rider (1886-1975) 29" x 43", Oil/Canvas, Signed Lower Right Est.: $70,000 - $90,000 Sold by John Moran Auctioneers for $69,000 on 10/17/2006

Born in Chicago, IL on March 21, 1886.

Rider received his early training at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. In his student years he painted for the Chicago Lyric Opera and later traveled to Europe.

While living in London, he painted for the London Opera at Covent Garden. He further studied at Académies de la Grande-Chaumiére and Colarossi in Paris, and exhibited there at the George Petite Galleries.

For nine summers he painted in Spain and it was there that he met Joaquin Sorolla who greatly influenced his work. They painted together on the Valencian Beach, and when Sorolla died in 1923, Rider was an integral part of the funeral cortége.

While in Spain, Rider's works were exhibited at the court of Valencia.

Trips were made to California during the 1920s before settling in Laguna Beach in 1931.

For over thirty years he was one of the leading scenic artists with MGM and Fox Studios. He painted murals for the Century of Progress Expo of Chicago in 1933 and the GGIE of 1939.

A versatile artist, he excelled in painting florals, landscapes, seascapes, animals, and figures.

During his last years he made trips to Taxco, Mexico and specialized in architectural themes such as cathedrals and buildings with red tile roofs.

Rider died in Pasadena on Jan. 25, 1975.

Member: Palette & Chisel Club (Chicago); Academy of Western Painters (LA); Hispanic Society; Laguna Beach AA.

Exh: AIC, 1917 (prize), 1923 (prize), 1925, 1929; Hickox Studios, 1924; Painters & Sculptors of LA, 1927-59 (prizes); Long Beach Public Library, 1928; Chicago Galleries Ass'n, 1929 (solo); Calif. State Fair, 1936 (2nd prize); GGIE, 1939; Calif. Art Club, 1940 (1st prize); Ebell Club (LA), 1942; Athletic Club (Hollywood), 1947; Circulo des Bellas Artes (Spain).

In: Irvine (CA) Museum; Orange Co. (CA) Museum; Chicago Municipal Collection; Fleischer Museum (Scottsdale).

Source:
Edan Hughes, "Artists in California, 1786-1940"
Interview with the artist or his/her family; California Impressionism (Wm. Gerdts & Will South); American Art Annual 1931; WW in America, 1931; Who's Who in American Art 1940.