Florence Elliott McClung (American, 1894-1992) Empire, Colorado, 1956 Oil on canvas 20-1/4 x 24 inches (51.4 x 61.0 cm) Signed lower right: F. McClung Signed, titled, dated, and inscribed indistinctly on the reverse: Florence McClung / 4508 Lorraine / Dallas 5 Texas / Post office / Hard Rock Cafe / False Fronts / Built 1812 / Children playing / On way up to / Berthoud Pass / Title Empire Colo. / Children at play / Painted [...] 1956 PROVENANCE: David Dike Fine Art, Dallas, February 21, 1998, lot 189; Acquired by present owner from the above. An important member of the circle associated with the Dallas Nine, Florence Elliott McClung devoted much of her career to recording the landscapes and communities of the American Southwest. Empire, Colorado, painted in 1956, reflects both her close observation of place and her personal connection to Colorado, where she had studied and worked earlier in her career. The small mountain town, its distinctive false-front buildings, and children at play are transformed into a warmly observed portrait of everyday life. McClung's importance extended well beyond Texas: in 1936, the Metropolitan Museum of Art acquired her painting Lancaster Valley, making her, according to the Texas State Historical Association, the first Texas artist to have a work enter the museum's collection. HID12401132022 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice

David Dike Fine Art, Dallas, February 21, 1998, lot 189; Acquired by present owner from the above. An important member of the circle associated with the Dallas Nine, Florence Elliott McClung devoted much of her career to recording the landscapes and communities of the American Southwest. Empire, Colorado, painted in 1956, reflects both her close observation of place and her personal connection to Colorado, where she had studied and worked earlier in her career. The small mountain town, its distinctive false-front buildings, and children at play are transformed into a warmly observed portrait of everyday life. McClung’s importance extended well beyond Texas: in 1936, the Metropolitan Museum of Art acquired her painting Lancaster Valley, making her, according to the Texas State Historical Association, the first Texas artist to have a work enter the museum’s collection.

Unlined. Yellowing to varnish. Scattered areas of craquelure. Stretcher bar mark along left edge. A few small losses in lower left region. A few tiny white surface accretion dots along lower edge. Under UV examination, no apparent inpainting; a few scattered surface accretions fluoresce.
Framed Dimensions 27 X 31.25 Inches