Mendocino Church

Byron T. Randall

This depiction of the mid-19th century Carpenter-Gothic church in Mendocino, California, is typical of Randall’s style in the 1960s. Influenced by his then-wife Emmy Lou Packard, a commanding subject in bold, sharp textures takes up most of the sheet, highlighting the historic architecture in a portrait-like composition. This style exhibits the mark of his time in 1950s and 1960s Mendocino, then a major hub of post-war artistic exploration that attracted artists from all over the country.

The Mendocino Presbyterian Church was built between 1867 and 1868 by S.C. Bugbee & Son. It’s made entirely of coast redwood and is situated on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean from 44831 Main Street. The style of the architecture is also known as Rural Gothic and is particular to North America. This is one of Randall’s best-known images from the era.