San Francisco, Market Street

San Francisco, Market Street is the first San Francisco painting since my well-known San Francisco, A View Down California Street from Nob Hill painting to involve cable cars – and this itself is cause for celebration. Perhaps that’s why I couldn’t resist including numerous high-flying flags in my painting. To me, every visit to San Francisco feels like a celebration.

In San Francisco, Market Street I took the liberty of turning back the clock to a vivid and very colorful era. The time is approximately 1900 – before the great earthquake transformed the face of the city and automobile traffic filled its picturesque streets. It was the era when the cable cars were an efficient way of getting around the City by the Bay, and when Market Street was truly the heart of San Francisco.

It was an ear when ferries tied the city to bustling communities across the bay and dray wagons hauled products and produce to and from the busy port. In fact, you can see the Ferry Buildings in the distance in San Francisco, Market Street. Also featured in my painting are the Chronicle Building and Central Tower – left and right, respectfully – the latter of which is often proclaimed to be San Francisco’s first “skyscraper.” But the real landmarks of San Francisco are those charming little cars that make their way up the towering hills and winding streets of this beautiful city. Cable cars themselves are part of the reason San Francisco is still the city where I left my heart.