William Keith (1836-1911)
Old Master of California
From 1885 to the end of his life his home stood about fifty yards east of this spot
"He who is a blessing for his time is a blessing for all time"
Erected 1954 by K.M.A. St. Mary's College, Keith Arts Association.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical date for this entry is April 13, 1911.
Location. 37° 52.177′ N, 122° 15.936′ W. Marker is in Berkeley, California, in Alameda County. It is in Downtown Berkeley. Marker is at the intersection of Oxford Street and Allston Way, on the right when traveling north on Oxford Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Berkeley CA 94704, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Site of the Kellogg School (within shouting distance of this marker); Don Pedro Fages Expedition (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ennor’s Restaurant Building (about 400 feet away); Site of John Hinkel Livery Stable, 1900 (about 500 feet away); F.D. Chase Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Tupper & Reed Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Studio Building 1905-06 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Chamber of Commerce / Wells Fargo Bank (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berkeley.
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Regarding William Keith (1836-1911).
William Keith was a very prolific artist painting over 4,000 oil paintings in his lifetime, half of which tragically burned in his studio in the earthquake and fire of 1906. In his heyday, collectors from all over the world visited Keith’s studio where the artist would select a painting for clients, order everyone to be quite, and then dramatically reveal the painting from behind a black velvet curtain on an easel flooded in light. Keith died in 1911 and, despite turning out hundreds of lesser paintings that have been called “potboilers”...in the last five years of his life in an attempt to recoup the losses from 1906, he is honored as the “Dean of California Painters”.... When he died at home in 1911, he was both wealthy and famous. An entire room was dedicated to his work at the The Panama Pacific International Exposition of 1915 and a special gallery dedicated to his life’s work, the Keith Gallery at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, opened in 1934.
Also see . . .
"William Keith (November 18, 1838 – April 13, 1911) was a Scottish-American painter famous for his California landscapes. He is associated with Tonalism and the American Barbizon school. Although most of his career was spent in California, he started out in New York, made two extended study trips to Europe, and had a studio in Boston in 1871-72 and one in New York in 1880." (Submitted on June 1, 2021.)
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Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 129 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 1, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
