Silva, William Posey (1859-1948).

Springtime - Carolina Low Country by William Posey Silva (1859-1948) 30" x 36", Oil/Canvas, Signed Est.: $20,000 - $30,000 Sold by John Moran Auctioneers for $41,250 on 6/17/2003 ARTIST WORLD RECORD

Landscape painter.

Born in Savannah, GA on Oct. 23, 1859.

Silva was educated at the Catham Academy and studied engineering briefly at the University of Virgina.

Upon the death of his father, he inherited a successful chinaware business. For about 30 years Silva worked as a prosperous merchant and was nearly 50 years old when he began his art career.

In 1907 he retired from the business and sailed for Paris to study at Academie Julian under Laurens and Royers, and with Chauncey Ryder.

His first solo exhibition was held in Paris in 1909 at the Georges Petit Gallery; recognition came quickly and other exhibitions followed in Europe.

After returning to the U.S. in 1910, he had several exhibitions throughout the South.

Silva had studios in Washington, DC and Chatanooga, TN until 1913 when he settled in Carmel, CA. There he built a studio in the sand dunes off Carmelita Stret and for 35 years was an important figure in the local art scene and produced many prize-winnings landscapes.

He died on Feb. 10, 1948.

Member: Calif. Art Club; Society of Washington Artists; Mississippi AA; Paris American AA; So. States Art League; New Orleans AA; AAPL; AFA; Salmagundi Club; Chatanooga AA; Carmel AA. Exhibited: Paris Salon; PAFA; CGA; NAD; AIC; de Young Museum; GGIE, 1939.

Awards: silver medal, Appalachian Expo, Knoxville, 1910; silver medal, Panama-Calif. Expo, San Diego, 1915; gold medal Mississippi AA, 1916; second prize, Calif. State Fair, 1920, 1935; hon. mention, Paris Salon, 1922; popular prize, 1929 and second prize, 1930, Santa Cruz.

Works held: Houston Museum; Union High School, Monterey; Harrison Library, Carmel; Luxembourg Gallery, France; Montgomery (AL) Museum; Delgado Museum, New Orleans.