Original oil painting on board by American painter Wilmer S. Richter (1891-1993). The piece dates to the second quarter of the 20th century and depicts a vibrant market of San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. Paint is thickly applied giving the piece a good deal of depth.

The painting is hand signed in the lower right and measures 6 x 8 inches, with frame it is 9 x 11 inches. The reverse bears the artist's full name and the location of the scene. Nicely framed in a period limed oak frame that I'm sure is original to the piece.Painting shows typical craquelure and is in excellent condition. 

Wilmer Siegfried Richter (1891-1993) was a Philadelphia-born painter and illustrator. A prolific draftsman since childhood, he began working in a photo-engraving department at the age of 18 while attending art school at night at the Museum School of Industrial Arts and later at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

He was drafted into World War I at 27, was deployed without any training, and was almost immediately gassed and wounded in combat, during his recuperation he sketched and played piano for his fellow wounded comrades.

Upon returning to the states, the Saturday Evening Post took interest in his wartime illustrations and published many of them. He would continue illustration with commissions from  Colliers, McCalls, Ladies Home Journal and others. Devoting himself to fine art painting whenever he could and traveling to Europe, Mexico, Cuba, and Canada for subject matter.

He moved to Sarasota, Florida after World War II and taught painting at the Ringling School of Art. He died in 1993 at the age of 102.