John Brunner
Blue Spring, Florida, Watercolor

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Brunner Blue Spring
Brunner Blue Spring
John A. Brunner, (1868-1948) (attributed to)
Blue Spring, Florida
American: 1932
Titled verso and dated April 1932
Watercolor on paper
11 x 15.25 inches, overall
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Watercolor landscape of an artesian spring in Florida, glimpsed through tall trees and Spanish moss.  A faint figure stands at the end of a dock.  Such springs are a common feature of the northern and central Florida landscape, where water from the vast underground aquifer seeps up through the limestome and forms a pool of water. Given that the limestone characteristically gives these springs a blue color, it is not surprising that there are several called Blue Spring in Florida, so this watercolor could have been made at one of number of locations.

John A. Brunner’s studied art at Cooper Union in New York City, followed by studies abroad in England, France and Germany.  His landscape paintings and portraits were executed principally in watercolor.  Florida and the mountains of upstate New York were among his most favored subjects.  He also achieved renown as a woodcarver, carving busts of American Indians, totem poles, medallions of American citizens, and American style furniture.  His art is in various public and private collections.  This watercolor was among a group purchased from the artist’s family in New Jersey.

Reference:

Follman, Joe and Buchanan, Richard.  “Springs Fever: A Field & Recreation Guide to 500+ Florida Springs, 2nd Edition.” Florida Springs.  29 July 2005.  http://www.tfn.net/springs/ (22 August 2005).