DeFOREST, Lockwood
DeFOREST, Lockwood (1850-1932), New York-born landscape painter, one of four children of a prosperous and socially prominent New York family. He grew up in New York City and on Long Island at Nethermuir, the family summer estate near Cold Spring Harbor. He traveled the world, was well educated.
DeForest's works include many Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz Island coastal scenes. Most of his works adhere to a 9 3/4 by 14 inch size, oil painted on paper on an ochre ground. Thumbtack corner holes are often apparent where he attached the paper to his field easel. Margaret Eaton reported a visit to Pelican Bay by both Lockwood DeForest senior as well as junior. [Eaton 1980: 204].
It is possible that Lockwood de Forest went to California for the first time in 1889, but it is certain from his dated work that by 1902, he was spending his winters in the state, at Santa Barbara and occasionally on the Monterey Peninsula. After a good many trips west, de Forest built a home at Santa Barbara in 1915 where his son Lockwood de Forest III, who could claim Rudyard Kipling as his godfather, became one of the state's most famous landscape architects.
- DeFOREST, Lockwood. Lockwood DeForest Plen-Air Oil Sketches May 17 — July 27, 2001. New York: Richard York Gallery, 2001. Perfect bound wraps.
- [original in SCIF archives]
- 2023. Noticias 58(1) 2023. Lockwood de Forest Sr. (1850-1932) Artist, Architect, Interior Designer, Importer, Collector. By David C. Streatfield.
- [original in SCIF archives]
- Lockwood DeForest Paintings
Untitled, 1903
(East end Scorpion Rock, SCRI)
oil on paper
[original in SCIF archives]
Untitled, 1910
(Cueva Valdez, SCRI)
oil on paper
[original in SCIF archives]
Untitled, date obscured
(Santa Cruz Island)
oil on paper
[original in SCIF archives]
Untitled, 1919
(Landslide detail, north side, Santa Cruz Island)
oil on paper
[original in SCIF archives]
Untitled, 1919
(Landslide area facing China Harbor)
oil on paper
[original in SCIF archives]
Untitled, 1919
(Landslide mid-range, SCRI)
oil on paper
[original in SCIF archives]
Untitled, n.d.
(North Shore Cove with rock overhang, SCRI)
oil on paper
[original in SCIF archives]
Untitled, n.d.
(Santa Cruz Island)
oil on paper
[original in SCIF archives]
Untitled, n.d.
(Santa Cruz Island)
oil on paper
[original in SCIF archives]
Untitled
(Santa Cruz Island)
oil on paper
[original in SCIF archives]
Untitled
(Santa Cruz Island)
oil on paper
[original in SCIF archives]
In the News~
October 1, 1912 [SBMP]: “The Charm left Santa Barbara Saturday morning with thirty-three passengers, teachers, normal school students, artists and others. After an enjoyable trip across the channel, the party landed at Valdez Harbor, first having viewed the wonders of Painted Cave. The remainder of the afternoon was spent exploring. Trouble with the machinery prevented the start home on schedule time, and the party camped as best they could for the night. Sunday morning two fishing launches, one of them, Larco’s Miramar, appeared, and later the Ellen, Captain Zankich, chartered by Prof. A.C. Olney, whose wife was with the Charm party. The Charm was then given a rapid tow across the channel, the three launches furnishing the power with the Ellen leading the tandem... In the party were Judge E. C. Overman… Lockwood DeForest, Mr. and Mrs. Soule…”
August 16, 1913 [SBDN]: “Mr. and Mrs. Windsor Soule, Mrs. Soule’s father, Lockwood deForest, and a party of about fifteen left this morning for Friar’s Harbor on the launch Otter. The company will spend Sunday on the island and will return early Monday morning to this city. Captain Gourley will take campers on a fishing expedition near the islands today. Sunday, Captain Vasquez will take over a large party of excursionists, including a number of delegates to the electrical convention at the Potter Hotel.”
August 23, 1913 [SBMP]: “Among recent visitors to Santa Cruz Island was Lockwood DeForest, the celebrated artist, who, according to his friends, was very deeply impressed with the scenic grandeur of the isle. Mr. DeForest and a party of friends camped at Fry’s Harbor, and with captain Gourley’s launch Vamoose at their disposal, cruised along the island coast from Prisoners’ Harbor to the west end. The picturesque caves were explored, the launch being navigated to the innermost chamber of Painted Cave, a distance of 500 feet or more from the mouth. The party returned to the outer chamber where a picnic lunch was enjoyed. Mr. DeForest made a number of sketches, returning with much material from what is really virgin territory for artists. Another member of the party, adept in the art of colored photography, made good use of his camera and obtained a number of striking views. The island has been pictured this year as never before.”
