Oil on canvas of a blue-eyed elderly lady wearing a white bonnet, 27" by 22" (34" by 29 1/2" in the 19th century frame), that attractive old frame bearing a placard giving the name of the artist as WILLIAM MATTHEW PRIOR (1806-1873). Images of the unsigned painting, which was found in Downeast Maine, were sent to major auction houses in New England and New York City. None disputed this being a work by the famous itinerant portraitist...

This is a beautifully executed work, watercolor and gouache on paper, 14 1/2" by 20 1/2" (21" by 27" as framed), signed at lower right by the noted English artist WILFRED KNOX (1884-1966). Knox is known for his marine art, such as clipper ships, but also for scenes around the British Isles and the luminous Venetian and Mediterranean coastal scenes with shipping and maritime subject matter as seen in this example...

Watercolor painting of a young Native American girl of the Southwest, 17 1/2" by 14 3/4" (23 1/2" by 21" framed), signed at lower right (somewhat indecipherably) "Martchenko". This is a sensitive portrait by an obviously talented observer. Martchenko's works appear from time to time in Southern California. Born in Oregon, she studied under Sergei Bongart and at the Otis Art Institute. Portraiture seems to have been a favorite of the artist, in both oil and watercolor...

Oil on canvas painting of the arcaded breezeways at the famous Mission San Juan Capistrano in Southern California, 8" by 10", unframed, signed with initials at lower right and possibly again by the artist on the reverse. In addition there is an original old slip of paper giving the artist's biography. Schmidt was born in Gladbeck, Westphalia, Germany after the end of World War I. By age 15 he was already receiving art instruction...

Large mixed media abstract painting (28 3/4" by 39 1/2", 31 3/4" by 42 1/2" in gold leaf frame) on plywood panel, signed at lower right "WAHL", and dated there 2001. The painting is striking and handsome, the color combinations very in tune with today's retro contemporary look. A brief search of the name does not immediately point to a known artist. Medium is perhaps a thinned oil or gouache possibly, with some pencil lines drawn as well...

ONE OF A NUMBER BY THE ARTIST IN MY SHOP**This is a small etching (the sheet 5 1/2" by 7 1/2", respectably matted but not framed), by the noted California artist HARRIET GENE ROUDEBUSH (1908-1998), titled at lower left margin "Sausalito" and pencil signed at lower right by the artist...

Small painting on a medium that might be jute fibers, 12 1/4" by 12 1/4" framed, possibly signed at lower right with initials or monogram, but essentially unreadable. The piece is very "Atomic Age" 1950's style and is doubtless of that period. Unfortunately over time there has been some abuse, and scattered losses cover a large portion of the painting, as shown...

This is a very fine watercolor painting featuring the distinctive profile of the dominant mountain in Marin County, California, just north of San Francisco, Mount Tamalpais. The artist was the very well listed watercolorist ALFRED VILLIERS FARNSWORTH (1858-1908). Farnsworth signed the painting at lower right and dated it there 1901. This view is from the north side, approximately near San Anselmo, looking south...

Scarce lithograph print of 1922, "Eislauf" (Ice Skating), pencil signed at lower right by the enormously important German Expressionist, MAX BECKMANN (1884-1949), the sheet measuring 23 1/2" by 15 1/2". The image shows a delightful variety of people of all ages enjoying the open air pleasures of skating. This print was published by Reinhard Piper in Munich in a total edition of 230 examples. (Following biographical information from the website on the artist)...

Impressionist seascape oil painting on canvas board, 8" by 10" (13 1/2" by 15 1/2" framed) signed at lower right by Colorado artist ALFRED JAMES WANDS (1904-1998). On the reverse in pencil is written "Artist---Alfred Wands/2065 Ivanhoe St./Denver 7 Colo.". The work likely dates to the 1950's. Wands was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended the Cleveland Art Institute, then went to Europe for studies in Brussels and Munich...

A poster for the February 1992 Aspen Art Museum exhibition of the works of the highly regarded American contemporary artist, FRANK STELLA (1936-), measuring 34" by 23". The image is of a 1990 painted aluminum sculpture that was included in the exhibition. Stella hand signed the poster with blue felt tip marker at lower right. The artist needs little introduction, to those who follow contemporary American art...

A beautiful, exceedingly fresh watercolor painting of a high mountain range in late fall peak color, signed at lower left by listed Utah artist FLORA DAVIS FISHER (1891-1984). The work is by a woman artist from Provo, who studied art at Brigham Young University. Her work tends to be landscapes in oil and watercolor, often featuring the region's high altitude aspen trees. Measures 16 1/2" by 22" (23" by 29" in simple white framing).

A beautiful pair of miniature portraits, both signed Fuger, painted in watercolors on organic material. In addition, the elaborate frames are made out of this same natural material, something rarely, if ever, seen. The sitters, in 18th century attire, are a young gent and lady posed against a blue sky with foliage and hills behind them.

Notes on the backs of the frames provide the following information: "These miniatures were bought by Ellen Franklin in antique shop Bellagio Italy in 1929. ???...

Watercolor on paper of wildflowers in a ceramic vessel, and what appear to be cherries in the foreground, 19 3/4" by 15 1/2" as framed, signed at lower right with a signature that looks like "M. Bals-Werthmann" or similar, and dated there 1944. I don't see a listing for that name or variants I have tried. The artist, working during the darkest days of World War II, must have been wanting to try to bring a little brightness to grim times. The work is a little oxidized and the mat is simple cut...

(ONE OF FOUR BY MERRIAM IN MY SHOP) Large oil on canvas, 30" by 40" (38" by 48" framed), in its vintage original frame, the subject California's world famous Yosemite Valley, signed at lower left by the talented California painter JAMES MERRIAM (1880-1951). This work is very typical of the artist, both in its impressive size and in the characteristic impressionistic style of the artist. Merriam was born in Canada and was studying in Detroit, before arriving in Southern California. He traveled th...

**One of several works by the artist in my shop, including a watercolor---note similarities to another pencil drawing of the same year by the artist** Pencil on paper drawing of distant structures and foreground vegetation, dated 1967 and signed lower center, 5 1/4" by 7 1/4", 13 3/4" by 15 1/4" as framed, by the well listed Louisiana artist ROLLAND HARVE GOLDEN (1931-2019). Golden was known for his Louisiana landscapes, often executed in watercolor, and often featuring roads, with which he has...

A large poster, 38" by 28" inside the mat window and 49 1/2" by 39" in silvery, attractive, quality frame, signed discretely at upper left center by listed Italian artist MARIO BORGONI (1869-1950). Printed by Richter & Co. of Napoli, the subject is a handsome young man, sword in hand, partially draped in the green, white and red of the Italian flag. The poster, "Prestito Nazionale", was created to drum up patriotic feeling to help fund, through bonds, the war activities in 1916. Colors are qu...

English circa 1850 landscape oil painting of a castle (the shape suggesting often-painted Windsor Castle) topping a low mountain, two tiny figures in the foreground. The work, 16 1/2" by 22" (19 1/2" by 25" in frame that appears "married" to it, and not that successfully, at that) is very, very grimy. This is a restoration project----to remove the dirt of 150 years, repair several small tears, and varnish the dry surface. There is no signature visible. This is certainly a painting the cleani...