The Piece

1987 landscape painting.
Signed Terry Daugherty and dated ’87.
Oil on canvas, framed in wood.
Lower center signature visible.

Primary Description

This painting depicts a covered bridge spanning a calm river, framed by dense autumn foliage on either bank. The bridge sits horizontally across the composition, anchoring the scene, while the water below reflects muted light and color from the surrounding trees.

Paint is applied with controlled, layered strokes, particularly in the foliage, where warm reds, ochres, and greens are built up to create texture without heaviness. The water is handled more sparingly, with horizontal brushwork that reinforces stillness and depth.

About the Artist / Maker

Terry Daugherty was an American regional painter active in the late 20th century, known for representational landscapes depicting rural and small-town environments. His work often focuses on natural settings shaped by human presence, such as bridges, roads, and structures integrated into the landscape.

Paintings by Daugherty typically emphasize clarity of composition, seasonal atmosphere, and accessible subject matter rather than abstraction or conceptual framing. His work appears primarily in private collections and regional contexts rather than institutional museum holdings.

Historical Context

By the 1980s, many American painters working outside major art centers continued to engage with traditional landscape subjects. Covered bridges, in particular, held symbolic value as markers of rural continuity and historical memory during a period of increasing suburban and commercial development.

Works like this reflect a broader late-20th-century interest in preserving visual records of regional environments through painting, favoring familiarity and craft over experimentation.

Product Details / Materials & Presentation

→ Medium: Oil paint
→ Support: Canvas
→ Construction: Stretched canvas, framed
→ Signature / date: Signed “Terry Daugherty” and dated 1987, lower center
→ Frame: Solid wood frame, consistent with period

Condition + Updates

Overall condition is good.
The paint surface is stable with no visible flaking or losses. Canvas remains taut. Minor surface wear is consistent with age. The frame shows light handling marks. No restoration or conservation has been performed.

Why It Belongs in Your Home

This painting works well in spaces where warmth and familiarity are welcome. Its horizontal format and calm subject make it suitable for living rooms, studies, or transitional spaces such as hallways.

The composition is balanced and legible, offering visual rest rather than demand, making it easy to live with over time.

From Viridian Eclection

Viridian Eclection presents original works with clear attribution and grounded context. Each piece is offered without exaggeration, allowing material quality and authorship to speak plainly.