87

ERIC SLOANE

American, 1905-1985

"Autumn in Pennsylvania"

oil on masonite
titled and signed lower left "Autumn in / Pennsylvania / Sloane", signed and inscribed on the reverse "Cornwall Bridge / Conn"
24 x 36 in. (61 x 91.4 cm.), Frame: 30 1/4 x 42 x 2 in. (76.8 x 106.7 x 5.1 cm.)

  • Provenance: The artist; Private Collection, Virginia
  • Notes: Eric Sloane was born Everard Jean Hinrichs in 1905 to an upper middleclass family. He took an early interest in art and learned to paint letters and signs from his neighbor the noted font inventor, Frederic Goudy. As a young artist he painted the markings on planes flying out of Roosevelt Field in Long Island. Famed American aviator, Wiley Post, taught Sloane how to fly in exchange for painting lessons.
    Sloane left home at a young age and worked as a sign painter in various locations, most notably a stay in Taos, New Mexico. In 1925, he traveled throughout the Northeast where he became enamored with the covered bridges, barns, stone walls and farmhouses dating to the colonial era. He felt the spirit of America in the early architecture and would paint, draw and write about his perspectives over a career that spanned six decades.
    In the 1950s he started writing and sketching books on his version of Americana, focused primarily on New England and Pennsylvania farmhouses, barns and landscapes. In 1953 he purchased and restored a farm in Brookfield, Connecticut and moved to various towns in the region of Lake Candlewood including Merryall and Warren where he kept a home until 1985. He painted early American scenes, especially the barns and covered bridges of Western Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
    The present lot is an autumn scene in rural Pennsylvania. As a young pilot Sloane became fascinated with cloud formations. Dramatic skies with unique clouds are characteristic of his best works and this painting is no exception.
    Attuned to architecture and weather, Sloane's paintings capture the spirit of a place by taking into consideration every visual element and clue in the architecture and landscape and, in addition, the effects of the light on the air and shadows. The clouds appear to be moving carrying a shadow across the landscape. The inscription on the reverse of the painting indicates it was completed in his studio in Connecticut.
    In addition to his success as an artist he is credited as an authority on rural American architecture and early American tools. His extensive tool collection outgrew his home in Warren and he donated them to the Sloane-Stanley Museum in Kent, Connecticut.
  • Condition: in excellent original condition; no restoration apparent under UV; one small area of crazing in the center; recommend cleaning

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    We are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Shannon’s is merely a subjective qualified opinion. Frames on all paintings are sold "As Is". Frames may need some conservation. 
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October 30, 2025 6:00 PM EDT
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