For the collector of modern and mid century art, here is an interesting work from the year 1947. The highly modern painting of a green apple, blue pitcher and red and white diamond patterned cloth in a rather two dimensional and "airless" space is obviously the work of an accomplished artist. It is painted in oil on canvas, (unframed), the measurements being 32" by 11", and the artist, HENRI WORMSER (1909-) signed it at lower right in capital letters...

A well-painted oil on canvas (laid on board), 19 1/4" by 25 1/4" in later silvery-gold frame, signed at lower left "Lillian Reynolds" and dated there 1953. The scene is the timeless, shifting sands of the California desert, likely in the Palm Springs region. There does not appear to be information on an artist by this name, but that does not mean that she was not talented. There are a few light surface scratches and light soiling naturally accumulated over sixty plus years...

An outright rare monotype print work by a Northern California artist, works of whom rarely appear on the art market, JOHN ALOYSIUS STANTON (1857-1929). He signed it in pencil at lower left and dated it there 1904. The subject is a beached small wooden boat attended by several figures, as the sun sets...

An original pencil and watercolor drawing, titled on the reverse possibly in the artist's hand "L'entree des Tuileries a Paris", signed at lower right by the well-known, widely honored and sought after artist, ANDRE HAMBOURG (1909-1999). The drawing, of the famous Tuileries gardens in central Paris, measures 5 1/2" by 8" inside the mat opening. It is nicely framed in gold leaf (12 1/2" by 15") with hand-drawn mat lines. The work likely dates to the 1960's through 1980's...

This is a decorative painting of the sweep of the Bay of Naples and its famous Mt. Vesuvius volcano, executed in the classic manner with a few figures scattered in the foreground. A gnarled pine at center provides a dramatic focus point. The painting, 12" by 20" (15" by 23" framed) is old looking but probably dates to the mid 20th century; see staples on the tacking edge, and the reverse of the canvas doesn't look all that old---basically it's a case of looking older than it is...

A nineteenth century watercolor painting of high purple mountains looming above an arid landscape framed by two trees at right, unsigned, 6 1/2" by 9 1/2" plus 3/4" wide framing. Found in California, and I lean towards this being a view in that state, though it could be elsewhere in the West or even conceivably in a place like Italy. The houses at far left do not help to solve the riddle. The piece, glued to the backing board, is definitely quite old...

Oil on canvas, 24" by 36" (28" by 39" as framed), UNSIGNED, but certainly by the popular listed California artist HERBERT SARTELLE (1885-1955) (I will stand by this). This is a classic mountain scene favored by the artist (he seems to have painted that particular mountain over and over again), with large eucalyptus trees and a lake with distant mountains, all executed in Sartelle's unique impressionistic style and characteristic color palette. The painting probably dates to the 1940s or 1950s...

By the well-listed American artist JOSEPH MARGULIES (1896-1984) is this etching and aquatint print officially titled "Forever at Study", featuring two orthodox Jewish men studying the Holy Books. The work measures 10" by 12 1/4" inside the present mat opening and 15 1/4" by 19 1/4" as framed. Margulies was active in the New York City area and on Cape Ann in Massachusetts (Gloucester area)...

Oil on panel, 9 1/4" by 12 1/2" (14 1/4" by 17 1/4" as framed), signed at lower left in red "Karla Mirabal", and inscribed on label on reverse, "Judge M. R. Mirabal Homestead in New Mexico" "Artist Karla King--So Calif and New Mexico--Artists of West--WHAA". This is probably of historical interest, depicting as it does an early home. The work is very impasto and impressionistic. The painting is a bit soiled but could be placed on the wall as is. Note the two young girls on the porch.

A simple yet satisfying little watercolor depicting central Paris along the river Seine, Notre Dame in the center distance. The work is signed at lower left by French mid century artist Fernand Guignier and dated there 1966. Guignier is listed, with some auction records, but there does not appear to be an extensive biography. Typical works are in watercolor medium and feature Montmartre and scenes around the Seine in the center of the "City of Light"...

Watercolor on paper painting of a mid nineteenth century American house, 9 1/2" by 6 1/2" (17" by 13" framed), signed at lower right "Barney Moore" and dated there 1941. I do not see information on the artist but he was obviously talented. The house is of an architectural style that would have been common in the 1860's or 1870's, in many American neighborhoods east of the MIssissippi. Condition is excellent. Someone wrote "Moore 1946" on the reverse paper.

Pastel drawing of trees in early autumn by a large body of water, signed at lower right M. Moore, measuring 13 1/2" by 19" (21" by 26" framed). The viewer is reminded of Canadian art--landscapes of Ontario in the fall, for example--though this might just be a generic scene from the imagination of the artist. A colorful original work with considerable decorative quality. The drawing is slipping around a bit under the mat so will have to be re-affixed to backing.

Ink drawing, 7 1/2" by 9 1/2" inside the mat (15" by 17" as framed), signed at lower right by artist DAVE POWELL (born 1954), son of noted deceased Western American artists Ace Powell and Nancy McLaughlin Powell. There are no less than five figures in this complex and skillfully executed drawing. They are Tlingit warriors complete with traditional hats, war daggers, and capes...

Oil on canvas nocturne style painting of a wave, 24" by 30" (28" by 34" as framed) by listed California artist ERNEST BROWNING SMITH (1866-1951). Smith is a familiar artist on the plein air scene and I believe his works are presently underrated in the marketplace. The artist had a trademark style; often the scenes in my experience are simplified, devoid of figures, and in a limited color palette. This nocturne is executed in shades of blue...

A fine early watercolor with gum arabic highlighting, the subject a stag in a landscape, by a well-listed English 19th century artist, NEWTON SMITH FIELDING (1799-1856). The work measures 5 3/8" by 8" and is laid on another piece of paper. Including the present mat, dimensions are 16" by 20". The signature is actually on that second piece of paper, in pencil, at lower center. Fielding was born in England and died in Paris. Evidently he showed early talent as his works were exhibited at the ...

Good-sized watercolor painting of one of the famous canals of Venice, a gondolier and his vessel featured in the foreground, signed at lower left by the artist, B. Venuti. This work, 22" by 15" (31" by 23 1/2" in gilded old oak early twentieth century framing), probably dates to about the turn of the century. I do not see a listing for an artist by this name, though there is a "Benvenuti" who painted similar works, so I entertain the possibility that this might have been signed with a pen name...

An extensive classical Italian Mediterranean landscape on paper, signed at lower right by artist CARL NACKE (1876-after 1931). Measuring 15 1/2" by 23 1/4", the work's colors are unusually fresh considering the age of the piece. The watercolor is unframed, laid on a board, as found in a Georgia estate. Nacke was an artist best known for his work on fine porcelains at German porcelain factories; these porcelains appear at auction in Europe.

oil on Masonite contemporary style quayside scene, 9 1/2" by 14" (24 cm. by 36 cm.) with 1 3/4" frame and liner, signed at lower right "L. Neuquelman". Neuquelman's larger works, some in a Pointillist style, sell well into the thousands at European (mostly French) auctions; his style is in the School of Paris circle and he was at some point a "Wally Findlay artist" (works sold through the high-end retail Wally Findlay Gallery, which had contracts with select contemporary artists, for their outp...