Bruce Paul Fink "Still Life" Gesso and Multi-media (1959)

Bruce Paul Fink, renowned artist in various media, sold this rare painting to Mr. and Mrs. Esten Spurrier of Davenport, Iowa, at the Park Forest, Illinois Art Fair in September, 1959. It graced their Iowa home until they passed on. It has been in the family for more than two decades and is now being offered for sale.
 
Mr. Fink now resides in Connecticut and has enjoyed a long career of creating outdoor sculptures, architectural elements and other creative items from his foundry. His creations are found in noted museums, public buildings and collections worldwide. He also has taught in various fora throughout his career.

The work is large and heavy; made from a mix of slaked plaster and other applied pigments, known as traditional Italian "gesso". Its deep colors are vibrant and have withstood the rigors and perils of 65 years amazingly well. Those materials were utilized by the great artists of the Renaissance, and was the media of choice for the spectacular murals that adorn churches, palaces and other massive buildings. Such media have withstood the tests of time; extreme fluctuations in temperature, hordes of crowds, and interior air pollution from open-flame lighting sources that were commonly used in that era.