About the work

Like many of Darling’s desert scenes, this work was likely painted within walking distance from his home off Barona Road in Palm Springs. A faded label on reverse in the artist’s handwriting lists his addresses in Palm Springs and Laguna Beach. The original frame has a few minor bumps and rub marks, but overall is in very good condition.

About the artist…

A newspaper article from 1963 announced Darling’s death and recounted how his remarkable artistic talents were discovered by the Hollywood movie world. His work as an art designer began shortly after he moved to Southern California around 1920. He worked on 61 films between 1921 and 1954, earning three Oscars and nominations for five more. He eventually moved up to become head of the art department at 20th Century Fox. In his leisure time he painted landscapes and western scenes, and became particularly well known for his desert scenes in and around Palm Springs.

Born in Austria-Hungary in 1882, Darling arrived in New York in 1910 using the name Adalbert Sandorhazi. After coming to believe his foreign-sounding name was a possible handicap he adopted his wife’s surname “Darling.” In the 1930s he petitioned to legally change his name to William S. Darling.

Darling maintained homes in Palm Springs and Laguna Beach where he derived much of his subject matter. He also made painting forays into the Southwest in search of desert scenery and Native American subjects.

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