Santa Barbara Historical Museum offers exclusive look into portraits of Clarence Mattei

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.– The Santa Barbara Historical Museum is hosting an exhibit featuring the work of the late artist Clarence Mattei.

His parents founded the famous Mattei’s Tavern in Los Olivos.

We spoke to one museum expert about this local legend, who said this exhibit features an exclusive look at Santa Barbara’s citizens nearly a century ago.

From Herbert Hoover to Geraldine Graham, Clarence Mattei captured the essence of both national and local figures.

His career spanned over 4 decades.

At the height of his career, Mattei was one of the most sought after portrait artists in the country.

That’s when he turned to fast drying mediums like charcoal, which allowed him to more efficiently fulfill the demand for his portraits.

But faster speeds never compromised the quality of his work.

“These look almost like photographs. I’ve have people say Is this is a photograph? No it’s an actual charcoal portrait that someone did by hand,” said Museum Education Expert Emily Alessio.

Charcoal isn’t the only medium Mattei used. He experimented with oil, ink, and pencil as well.

With each of these mediums, fans say he excelled at bringing his human subjects to life.

“I think he brings out their personality. I was actually much more impressed about the just everyday life oil, charcoal paintings of how he, you know, just every day, ordinary people,” said Santa Barbara art lover Gil Michael.

Mattei created many of these “day in the life” portraits when he was a teenager, drawing inspiration from the cooks and the regulars at his parents establishment—Mattei’s Tavern.

This is the first time in history that the public can see Mattei’s early works on display.

“It took quite a bit of talent and in time to produce those he produced over, I think, 500 individual paintings,” said Michael.

This is exhibit is free to the public and will be running through September 24th.

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