Melville Thomas Wire (1877 – 1966)
Oregon Mountain Scene, circa 1920
Watercolor on paper

Period Frame

Possibly painted in the Wollowa Region.

Born in Austin, IL on Sept. 24, 1877. Wire studied art with Marie Craig at Willamette University and at the University of Oregon. For 61 years he was a pastor in the Methodist churches of Oregon while painting and etching in his leisure. Although based in Oregon, he made many trips to California in search of subject matter for his landscapes. He died in Salem, OR on June 22, 1966. His wife Bess was also an artist. Member: AAPL; Society of Oregon Artists. Exh: PPIE, 1915; Meier & Frank (Portland), 1936-38. In: Library of Congress; Portland Museum; Centenary-Wilbur Church (Portland); Cleveland Museum.

Source:
Edan Hughes, “Artists in California, 1786-1940”
Oregon Painters 1859-1959; Artists of the American West (Doris Dawdy); American Art Annual 1921-33.