Rolla Taylor (1872-1970)
San Antonio (Street to San Fernando Cathedral)
oil on canvas
20 x 14 inches
26.75 x 20.75 inches (frame)
signed lower left: Rolla Taylor
verso: hand-carved artist's frame initialed and dated RT XXII

Rolla Taylor is known for his depictions of San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country. This painting captures a romanticized view of downtown San Antonio from along Market Street, looking west from the area of the old Market House. The pair of conical domes and octagonal tower in the background are the City Hall of San Antonio and the southern tower of San Fernando Cathedral as well as the landscaped Plaza de las Islas is in the middle ground. In reality, the dome of City Hall is nearly directly behind, to the west, of San Fernando Cathedral, demonstrating that Taylor exercised artistic license in his perspective/composition, but produced a painting that is no less charming.

The painting appears to be in good condition. Under UV examination, there are two areas of inpainting in the sky, one 4 inches long.