Ink on paper drawing of the narrow streets of an old town likely in eastern Massachusetts, possibly Marblehead, two women chatting casually, the work signed by the artist at lower right and monogrammed and dated in Roman numerals 1896 at left, by the noted American artist and illustrator EDMUND HENRY GARRETT (1853-1929). Garrett was born in Albany, New York at mid century, and died near Boston at the end of the 1920's...

Oil on board painting of a young fair-haired woman in a pastoral landscape, caressing a dove in her hands, the subject handled in a dreamy impressionist style, signed at lower right with initials "HBK" and dated there 97. The work measures 12 3/4" by 8 3/4 including a narrow old style gold frame to which the board was mounted long ago. I am attempting to determine who "HBK" might have been. The artist was skilled and created a timeless image...

Watercolor painting of flowers in a vase on a tabletop, 16" by 18 1/2" (20" by 22" framed), signed at lower left corner by noted artist GUY DE BOUTHILLIER. The artist, born in France in 1893 to a French political minister, is said to have studied with Monet, Picasso, and John Singer Sargent (see printed label on reverse, with short biography, from the old Beverly Hills-based Martin Lowitz Gallery)...

Pastel drawing of a path among trees at day's end, 9 1/2" by 5 3/4" (13" by 9" framed), signed at lower right by artist E. W. Rost, or possibly E. Vyrost (Vyrost is a Czech surname). The work has a Tonalist or Barbizon feeling. There is an American artist Rost but with different initials, and that artist created mostly etchings. Condition of the drawing is excellent, though the frame has considerable wear, especially at bottom and left.

Circa 1960's watercolor painting of a snowy street in New England, a white church at left and bare elm trees framing the scene at right, signed at lower right corner by artist William Carpenter. I do not see a listing that would seem to fit but the artist obviously was talented in the watercolor medium. Condition is very clean. All images were taken through detail-dulling non-glare glass of the period. Measurements 10 1/4" by 11 1/2" (16" by 17" framed).

Circa 1900 watercolor of the heart of Venice, Italy, including the familiar sights of canal and gondola, St. Mark's Basilica church and the famous clock tower on the Piazza San Marco, signed at lower left "E.K. Coomber". This work measures 12" by 6 1/4" inside the mat and 18 1/2" by 12" framed. The artist though apparently unknown was talented and a master of the watercolor medium. The artwork is clean, although the photos suggest otherwise; there is foxing and soil on the inside of the glass...

PAIR of gouache paintings of Italy, one apparently showing the island of Ischia in moonlight, at the entrance to the Gulf of Naples, the other a coastal scene of the mainland, neither signed, circa 1900. The Ischia work measures 6 1/2" by 9 3/4", the other 7" by 10 3/4" (12" by 14 3/4" and 12 1/2" by 16" framed----the frames slightly different). Such paintings were popular souvenirs that went home with Grand Tour visitors at the turn of the century...

Etching, tightly trimmed to round shape ("tondo"), 8 5/8" by 8 5/8" (12" diameter in quality round, gold modern framing by Los Angeles framers Jerry Solomon Enterprises Inc.), the title "The Satyr Family", dating to 1657. This is a fine 17th century etching by a talented Old Master...

Oil on canvas bucolic landscape, a figure tending to haystacks in a tawny field, a towering tree looking over it all, 19 1/2" by 30", (26" by 35 1/2 " framed), signed at lower right by late nineteenth century English artist G CLAYTON. There are a few works by the artist in the auction records but I see no biography. Judging from the subject matter,handling, and materials, the work would likely date to about 1890...

Oil on board painting of whitewashed, red tile roof typical California architecture, a garden in bloom in the brilliant sunshine, painted circa 1940 by an anonymous artist. The impressionist technique is outstanding, and I believe that were this signed, we would see the name of a listed artist. Written in old hand in pencil on the reverse of the board is "Pomona College Claremont"...

Bold, likely American oil or acrylic on paper painting, with black, white and greenish-blue elements standing out against a red background, 19" by 23 1/2" (24" by 30" in shiny chrome metal type framing), signed in pencil at lower right with initials "M K". The contemporary work includes some identifiable forms, such as a five-pointed star at lower left, and one wonders if the black imagery at top is a human form including head, two breasts, legs, and feet...

Watercolor painting of docked small boats and their rigging, 13" by 9 1/2", 20 1/2" by 17 3/4" framed (no glass), signed at lower left by the artist, A. Romanet (ANDRE ROMANET, 20th century French). The talented watercolorist seems to have worked in the south of France on the Riviera before the war, there being watercolors of Saint-Tropez and Saint-Raphael. Colors are bright and condition is very good overall; I note a tiny puncture in sky at upper left, but it is tiny...

Crayon drawing on paper of village rooftops in a European mountain setting, 8 3/4" by 11 3/8" inside the mat, 14 1/2" by 17" in simple strip frame (not pictured), unsigned. The artist was talented but unfortunately remains anonymous. There are a few scribbles on the reverse side of the paper (see last image). The work dates to the first half of the twentieth century. It is in good condition, consistent with its age; some paper toning and very slight ripple.

Large, impressive watercolor painting of mountain laurel shrub and its delicate blossoms (the state flower of Connecticut, growing naturally in the wild, especially at higher elevations, and blooming in the month of May), 19" by 28 1/2" (27 1/2" by 35 1/2" framed), signed at lower right and dated there 1890, by the well listed Massachusetts artist RICHARD ANDREW (1869-1956). Andrew was born in Belfast, (Northern) Ireland and died in Gloucester, Massachusetts...

ONE OF TWO BY THE SAME ARTIST IN MY SHOP, IDENTICAL SIZE AND FRAMING, oil on board, 18" by 14" (22" by 18" framed), signed at upper right "LEE WILLKE". This work shows a Plains Indian with full roach and faintly mischievous smile. The complex surface is heavily worked. Both of these whimsical works likely date to about the 1950's, and were found at the same location in Maine. I have not been able to locate an artist of this name...

Sold together as a group, three early copper engravings on heavy paper, one titled "Deuil D'une Personne Qui Vient de Mourir" (20" by 24" framed), another "Mort. Le Passage de Caron, Le Fleuve du Styx, et les tourmens de L'enfer" (20" by 24" framed) and finally a smaller print, "Sepulcre ou Mausolee" (18" by 12 1/2" framed). The engraver was PIETRO SANTI BARTOLI (1635-1700), a noted Italian engraver, draftsman and painter. Born in Perugia, he studied briefly with the great Poussin. Today he ...

PAIR of drawings, one in pencil, consisting of two sketches of apparently the same figure, from varying angles (11 1/2" by 8 1/4"), the other in red chalk, of a nude model (15 1/2" by 11 3/4"). Both are signed by noted California artist BEN CARRE (1883-1978) and are identically framed (23 1/2" by 19 1/2"). Carre was born in Paris and was an early set painter for the Paris Opera, Comedie Francaise, and Covent Garden. He became an early art director for the Gaumont Film Studios, painting trompl...

Contemporary watercolor painting of a sun-filled, arid landscape with eucalyptus, spiky yucca-like plants, and a lizard (Australian goanna?) in the foreground, the painting signed at lower right "Meg Hocking". The piece is likely from Australia, as the goanna and eucalyptus would suggest. An internet search does not turn up an artist by this name but obviously she knew watercolor painting. The work, unframed (is matted, though) measures 13 3/4" by 9 7/8" inside the mat. Place a frame around ...