Ella Bird Smith, “Tampa Bay, Florida,” Oil on Canvas, c. Late 19th Early 20th Century

Painting

This is a seascape painted in blended blues, grays, and purples. Except for pink highlights, the colors are cool. The horizon is midlevel on the canvas. Large, puffy white clouds tinged with pink sit low in the sky and contrast with a small central tree-dotted island. The water is choppy; small white-tipped wavelets move toward the viewer. Further back, the hazy sky casts pink reflections on the water. There are about half-a-dozen distant sailboats; four are on the right, and one or two dot the left side of the painting. Two of the boats on the right are nearer than the far-off island.

Smith paintings became part of the Eagle’s Nest Art Gallery’s permanent collection at some point after 1950.

19 1/4 x 32″

Ella Bird Smith was originally from Stillman Valley. In 1881, she married Henry A. Smith, lawyer, and eventual mayor of Oregon. Smith wrote, travelled, painted, and was active in many of the local women’s organizations. She showed several oil paintings in the 1892 Oregon Women’s Columbian Club Exhibition, which was held in 1892 at the courthouse.