Early 20th century cliff-side seascape oil painting on canvas by George L. Morris (American / Maine, 1890-1983). Titled Cliffs in Sunlight (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) on the reverse. Bathed in luminous coastal light, this seascape captures the rugged beauty of New England’s rocky shoreline. Morris’s expressive brushwork highlights both the solidity of sunlit granite, and the restless energy of the sea beyond. A sailboat drifts quietly on the horizon, offering a moment of stillness against the dynamic movement of waves and clouds. Label from the Pennsylvania Art Conservatory also on the reverse. Artwork in original, gilded wood frame measures 26.25" x 32". Artwork in very good condition. Frame in good condition with age appropriate scattered light wear.
George Louis Morris was born on September 21, 1890, in Portland, Maine. He began his early career as a salesman in his father’s business, but his passion for painting soon became the true focus of his life. Morris spent most of his years in Portland with his wife, Marion (Foster Thorndike) Morris, and was deeply inspired by the beauty of the New England coast—especially the town of Ogunquit, Maine.
His seascapes often captured the dramatic meeting of waves and moss-covered rocks, as well as boats and the charm of Ogunquit’s seaside village. Among his favorite subjects were Perkins Cove and The Marginal Way—a scenic cliff walk with sweeping coastal views, benches, and a lighthouse that leads to a quiet cove dotted with boats, docks, and fishermen’s shacks.
Morris exhibited widely throughout the Midwest and East Coast, including at The Closson Galleries in Cincinnati, Ohio, and The Ogunquit Museum of Art. He also painted and sold his work from a small studio gallery on Shore Road in the heart of Ogunquit. He passed away there on October 2, 1983.
