Untitled (Tropical Landscape)

Fortunato Arriola’s ability to capture the luminosity of sunlight and moonlight was well recognized in the press. This ability is showcased well in this painting, where Arriola emphasizes the saturated color of the twilight sky paired with a crescent moon. Distinguished by their exotic details, such tropical themes were popular in San Francisco during the late 1860s, appealing to those who had encountered the foliage of Panama and Nicaragua en route to California.

Born and raised in Sinaloa, Mexico, Fortunato Arriola was well educated in the classics, learned several languages, and taught himself to paint. He arrived in San Francisco in 1857 and became an active and popular member of San Francisco’s growing art community.