”Last Harvest“
30 X 40 Oil
The Last Harvest refers not only to the last harvest of the season, but the very
last harvest ever from the garden for these gardeners. Before the next harvest, home,
garden and possessions will be abandoned. And, in the distance, another harvest,
it too a last harvest is commencing in the temple.
This painting is inspired by the view immediately behind the Jonathan Browning home
and gun shop. The Browning home and gun shop are part of a cluster of popular restored
homes and businesses along main street in Old Nauvoo. Currently, the lot behind the
building serves as a working garden producing fresh vegetables each season.
A fan of “the less common view” David
loved to poke around behind Nauvoo’s historic buildings during his visits, finding
inspiration for his paintings in unlikely locations. Here, David depicts the backyard
scene much as it actually is with only limited artistic license. When The Last Harvest
was completed, the reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple was just underway, and not
visible from behind the Browning complex. However, the arm of the tall crane at the
construction site was easily seen towering over the trees giving reference to the
location of the temple. David was thus able to accurately “add” the temple as it
would have been seen on temple hill.
Private Collection