Clarence Mattei - Portrait of a Community: A talk by Erin Graffy about the artist

Description

For over forty years Clarence R. Mattei captured in pen and pencil, charcoal, and oil the portraits of notable figures on the local, national, and international stage. The artist had roots which went deep into the historical soil of Santa Barbara County. In 1886, his father, Felix Mattei, founded Mattei’s Tavern, in Los Olivos when the stagecoach was still the primary means of overland travel. Here Clarence grew up with his four brothers. Although Mattei moved comfortably in the sophisticated salons of Paris and in the drawing rooms of the privileged in New York City the pull of his rustic childhood home remained strong, and he eventually returned to Santa Barbara. Here he became a key figure in the city's burgeoning art colony. Erin Graffy draws her own portrait of this talented artist, by utilizing private archives and interviews with family and friends. About the Speaker: Erin Graffy de Garcia is the author of a number of books and articles on the history and culture of the Santa Barbara area.