Arcadia Art Consultancy is pleased to offer The Afterglow, a luminous oil on canvas by Ralph Albert Blakelock (American, 1847–1919), now available for acquisition from a private collection.
Blakelock remains one of the most enigmatic and poetic figures in American art. A self-taught painter who traveled alone through the American West in the 1870s, he immersed himself in the natural world and Indigenous cultures he encountered—experiences that deeply informed his vision. While his early works reflect the influence of the Hudson River School, Blakelock ultimately departed from its realism in favor of a more intuitive, emotionally driven style. His paintings became inward-looking meditations—evocative, moody, and hauntingly personal.
The Afterglow (17 x 27 in.; 25 x 35 in. framed) captures the essence of what makes Blakelock’s work so enduring: a dusky tonal palette, glowing skies, and an uncanny sense of stillness. He developed unconventional techniques to achieve this effect, smoothing thick pigment with pumice stone to create a soft, atmospheric haze, and often mixing bitumen and varnish to deepen the tonal range and impart a shadowy luminosity. These methods produced richly textured surfaces and a distinctly otherworldly mood—hallmarks of his most compelling work.
Despite exhibiting regularly at the National Academy of Design, Blakelock struggled to translate artistic success into financial stability. He sold many of his paintings for a fraction of their value and lived in poverty. His frustrations, compounded by the strain of supporting a large family, contributed to a decline in his mental health. Eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia, Blakelock spent the last two decades of his life institutionalized. Tragically, the asylum staff believed his claims of artistic acclaim were symptoms of delusion, even as he continued to paint with improvised materials—cardboard, ink, and brushes made from his own hair.
In a twist of fate, Blakelock’s work achieved market recognition in his lifetime, albeit too late to benefit him. In 1916, one of his landscapes sold for $20,000—then the highest price ever paid for a painting by a living American artist. Today, his work is held in major institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Blakelock’s market has remained consistently strong, with significant examples commanding six-figure prices at auction and in private sales.
Works of this caliber rarely come to market. For collectors seeking a richly expressive American landscape with historical significance and lasting emotional resonance, The Afterglow represents a rare opportunity.
To request pricing, high-resolution images, or to schedule a private viewing, please contact Marie St. Germain at marie@arcadiaappraisals.com or 858-964-8122. We would be glad to speak with you further if you're considering acquisition or would simply like to learn more about this exceptional work.