This is Hartough’s 24th painting in her U.S. Open series, commissioned by the United States Golf Association. Offered in a limited edition of 850 prints and an additional 85 artist proofs, each is signed and numbered by the artist.
On choosing to paint the 16th Hole at Merion Golf Club, Hartough said, “The rest of the course looked wonderful in the spring air, and it was really hard to limit the choice to one hole. But the sight of the Quarry Hole ablaze with yellow-flowered scotch broom did it for me.”
The Quarry Hole is one of the most demanding holes in golf at one of the most historic courses in America. Designed by Hugh Wilson, the East Course opened in 1912. It perhaps is best known as the place where Bob Jones won the 1930 U.S. Amateur to complete the Grand Slam.
In this rendering, Hartough brilliantly captures Merion on a beautiful spring day, with details of scotch broom covering the treacherous terrain of the old limestone quarry. The panorama invites inspection of the dramatic undulations, stone ledges and elevations marking the difficult approach shot to the iconic two-tiered green.
“Linda has done a wonderful job capturing the drama of Merion’s famous ‘Quarry Hole’ – the 16th,” said Scott R. Nye, PGA Head Professional at Merion Golf Club. “The vibrant yellow scotch broom in the quarry and the famous orange wickers provide eye-catching pop that brings out the scenic beauty of the hole.
“The long afternoon shadows across the fairway coupled with the clubhouse in the lower left remind golfers that they are truly fortunate to walk where the legends of the game have played over 100 years of championship golf at Merion. The pencil sketch depicts the original farmhouse and barn, reminding players that the land was a farm long before Hugh Wilson’s gem was created.”
Hartough painted the first of her U.S. Open series in 1990, when Hale Irwin won at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill. A confirmed artist since childhood, early in her career Hartough painted landscapes, portraits and horses. In 1984, Augusta National Golf Club commissioned her to paint its famous 13th hole, an event which propelled Hartough toward specialization as a golf-landscape painter. Since then, her work has achieved a distinguished status, displayed in the permanent collections of such legendary clubs as Augusta National, Laurel Valley, Pinehurst and Pine Valley, as well as in the personal collections of such golf notables as Jack Nicklaus and Raymond Floyd. Her paintings also hang in the Morris Museum of Art in Augusta, Ga.Known for extraordinary attention to detail in her recreation of some of golf’s most beautiful holes, Hartough imbues her paintings with admiration for the scenery’s natural beauty and respect for the game’s history and tradition, elements which seem to emerge from the canvas. Hartough’s paintings and prints grace the collections of golf-art lovers the world over.
Hartough is a Founding Trustee of the Academy of Golf Art, a professional society of golf artists established in 2004 to create an awareness and appreciation of golf art as a valuable segment of fine art.
For more information, visit www.hartough.com.
Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com
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