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1953-1957 72” oil painting of a mountain range by Frederick S. Wight (1902-1986). While always concerned with the spiritual in landscape, Wight hit his stride in his 70s after he retired. Here we have an early work from the 50s when he was also in his 50s. A mountain, cloaked in snow, gives some sense of monastic robes. There is a hook like interruption to the right of the main peak that brings to mind a grappling hook. Will it be climbed, can it, should it? Originally titled "Coronation" and renamed "Serra".

Signed, dated on two labels verso.

49.5ʺW × 1.25ʺD × 72.5ʺH

Wight was brought on in 1953 by UCLA as a Professor of Modern Art and director of the original University Art Galleries at UCLA. Rrenamed New Wight Gallery in 1974 upon his retirement.  During his 20-year tenure, and presented the work of major figures including Jean Arp, Morris Graves, Hans Hofmann, Arthur Dove, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso and Richard Neutra, as well as establishing the university's Grunwald Center for the Graphic Arts and Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden. In addition to organizing the shows, Wight wrote essays in dozens of exhibition catalogs and authored monographs on prominent artists. He was truly a foundational figure in the development of Los Angeles as a major art center.