Vintage MCM Realist Oil Painting of Small Mountain Pond by Michael Hill

Wow! When I first saw this painting, I thought it was a photo and almost passed right by it. Had it not been for being labeled a “painting” the story would end there. The hazy background seems so genuine. The muddy pond, just the right color of green and brown. The dull green of the trees on an overcast foggy morning perhaps. This is likely a scene that Michael Hill painted while back in the UK, where he was born.

Michael John Hill was born and raised in Brighton in Sussex, England. Hill’s skill and interest in art came early. He received only a little formal training while in primary school so is largely considered a self-taught artist. Hill’s style resembles the Old Masters in his level of detail. He first exhibited his work in London’s Green Park. He showed there for 18 years. A Marshall Field’s London rep saw and consequently purchased his paintings and sent them to Chicago where his American career soon prospered. The painting measures 22 x 16 inches framed and matted.