''Mission Entrance'', figures near a Mexico City church portico, circa early 1920s, faintly signed lower left: Alson Clark, titled by repute, oil on canvas laid to canvas, 39.5'' H x 51.25'' W, est: $50,000/70,000
Note: An avid world traveler, Alson Clark visited Mexico for the first time in 1922 and went back for a longer trip a year later with Orrin White. The pair left in March 1923 by boat and visited, among other places, Manzanillo, Mexico City, Cuernavaca, Queretaro and Taxco. Although figures are the prominant compositional feature in the present Mexico City work, Clark's fascination with aged and deteriorating building facades is on view as well. The upper parts of the stucco portico walls are bathed in bright sunlight while the artist's signature lavendar shadows texture the lower parts of the facade. A lively group of figures converse before the portico doors, some holding baskets and flowers. The church's ornate domed roof peeks out from behind the entrance and foliage.. Provenance: The University Club, Pasadena, CA

Condition: Visual: Generally good condition. Craquelure scattered throughout. Blacklight: A 1.5'' line, a 1.25'' x 1'' area, three pea-sized spots and scattered small spots of touch-up upper left. A 1.5'' x .5'' area of touch-up left center. A 6'' x 3'' scattered area, a 1.25'' x 1.5'' scattered area and scattered small spots of touch-up lower left. A pea-sized spot and small spots and lines of touch-up in the center. A 1.75'' x .75'' scattered area of touch-up lower center. Small spots of touch-up scattered throughout the upper right. A 2.25'' x 2.75'' scattered area, a 2.75'' x 1.25'' scattered area and scattered small spots of touch-up right center.