Desert in Bloom, Signed Mary Ann Davis, Oil on Canvas, American Plein Air
Viridian Eclection
The Piece
A flat run of pale desert sand leads back to a range of lavender mountains under a clear blue sky banked with soft white cumulus. Low mats of rose-violet verbena spread across the foreground in bloom, small sage-green shrubs dot the middle distance, and a single spiky desert plant stands to the right of centre, its shadow falling cool across the sand. It is a bright, open picture of the desert in spring, painted in clean blues, sand, lavender and rose.
The canvas is presented in an ornate gilt wood frame with a carved scrolling pattern.
History & Provenance
Signed "Mary Ann Davis" in full at the lower right. We attribute the painting to the American plein air painter Mary Ann Davis (born 1954) on the strength of that signature. Davis trained at the Herron School of Art in Indianapolis (BFA 1976), won the T. C. Steele Great Outdoors competition in 2004, and is a signature member of the American Impressionist Society and of Plein Air Artists Colorado, whose national exhibition gave her an Award of Merit in 2020. Her work has been shown in Boulder, Naples and Indianapolis and has appeared in Southwest Art and Plein Air Magazine.
The canvas is undated, and no label or inscription ties it to a particular exhibition. Her record of painting in the American West gives context to a desert subject carrying her full name. Her career is written up in full on our Mary Ann Davis artist page.
Product Details
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Object | Landscape painting, desert in bloom with mountains |
| Origin | American; attributed to Mary Ann Davis |
| Form | Framed painting on canvas, ornate gilt wood frame |
| Material | Oil on canvas |
| Marks | Signed "Mary Ann Davis" lower right |
| Era | Late 20th to early 21st century; undated |
| Condition | Very good vintage condition. Stable paint surface with clear, even colour; frame with light edge wear, structurally sound. Condition Guaranteed. |
| Availability | One of a Kind — 1 Available |
Why It Belongs in Your Home
This canvas brings the light of open country indoors. Hung above a sofa, console or bed, it gives a room sky and distance, and its soft blues and desert pinks sit beautifully with linen, wood, leather and stone. It is a natural fit for a Southwestern or mountain home, and just as much at ease in a quiet traditional room that wants a little air.
To keep it at its best, hang it out of direct sun and away from heat sources and humidity. Dust the frame with a soft, dry brush, and leave any cleaning of the painted surface to a conservator.
Every piece is packed with professional-grade materials: multiple foam layers, double-boxing, directional and fragile handling labels. For large furniture we use custom timber crating. We photograph packing before dispatch and can provide images on request.
White-glove delivery is complimentary within 100 miles of Reno, NV. National shipping quotes provided at checkout. All shipments are photographed and documented. Damage claims must be filed with the carrier; we provide all documentation needed to support your claim.
Local pickup is available at Viridian HQ (Reno, NV) with 2–4 days notice. Contact us to arrange. Private viewings also available.
All antique and vintage items are sold as described and all sales are final. Each listing includes detailed condition notes and photographs so you can make a fully informed decision. We encourage buyers to ask questions — about condition, dimensions, finish, provenance — before purchasing.
Antiques are irreplaceable and one-of-a-kind. Carrier handling is outside our control once a piece has left our facility, and major carriers including FedEx do not insure antiques. We do everything within our power to ensure safe transit, but cannot accept liability for carrier damage. If damage occurs in transit, we will provide full documentation to support your carrier claim.
Have a question? — we're happy to provide additional photos, condition detail, or discuss the piece directly.
