Oil on canvas painting of a tabby cat, 7" by 5" (12" by 10" framed), circa 1970 to 1980 judging from the framing, signed lower right "Jody". The artist was certainly talented; the likeness of the cat to reality is well above average. Condition is excellent. Needs to be nailed more tightly into frame.

BARTON STONE HAYS (1826-1914) was born in Ohio, and he came to be associated with the Midwest throughout his life, becoming a leading portrait painter in Indianapolis, and finally, coming to be known for his still life works, based out of Minneapolis, after 1882. Early in his life he was a Daguerreotypist, diorama painter and portrait painter, and there are some rare and sought-after genre paintings, some even of African-American subject matter...

Oil on canvas painting of a fetching young red-headed girl with a doll, 24" by 18" (34" by 27 1/2" in old attractive frame), signed at lower left "P. Harwood", not dated but circa early 20th century. This is a really beautifully executed work, reminding of some of the vigorous portraits by masters like Robert Henri; but, efforts to identify the artist have not borne fruit...

Impressionist painting signed at lower right with conjoined initials "MP", unframed, 24" by 18", the subject three female black dancers, two wearing festive hats. There is considerable energy in the scene and the stylized figures are by a trained hand. The painting likely dates to the 1960's or possibly 1950's. There are some light abrasions at lower left, a flaked area near the extreme lower edge there and another small edge loss at top, and light overall soiling.

Oil on canvas landscape of a forested, peaked mountain rising into scudding clouds, unframed, signed at lower right and dated 1876 by the noted well listed American artist from Massachusetts, D. JEROME ELWELL (1847-1912). This work measures 14" by 24 1/2". Elwell was intent upon his art at an early age, when he was spotted on the Gloucester waterfront sketching the marine scene, by one Samuel E. Sawyer, a wealthy Gloucester ship owner and patron of famed artist Fitz Hugh Lane...

Oil on canvas painting of a tabletop with flowers in vase and assorted decorative objects, 20" by 24" (26" by 20 1/2" framed), signed at lower left by artist HAZEL PETRA FETTERLEY BOEHME (1900-1941). On the reverse of the canvas the artist has written the title "Mid-Victorian", the date (May 1932), her name, Los Angeles, Cal., and original price of $75 or possibly $175 (appears she went over the numbers----maybe in difficult Depression times she had second thoughts on pricing)...

This is a really beautifully painted oil on a coarse, almost burlap canvas, the subject a sun-dappled yard of a house or other Spanish-California type structure populating old and established affluent communities such as Pasadena or Santa Barbara, tables and chairs in this little paradise awaiting the next social occasion. The work measures 16" by 20", UNFRAMED (the first image, with gold frame, is for display purposes only...again, the item will be sold UNFRAMED)...

Old early 20th century painting of a thin line of trees bordering a waterway, executed in a lovely impressionist palette with excellent handling of light, 17 1/2" by 21" as framed, signed in red at lower right corner "Chatterton". Though found in Ogunquit, Maine, in an art colony area where the well known American artist Clarence Chatterton was known to have painted, the signature does not resemble that of Chatterton, who was a student of Edward Hopper...

Oil on canvas, 19 1/2" by 25 1/2" (25 1/2" by 31 1/2" as framed)---(possibly an inner frame, the outer one long since separated), apparently unsigned, circa early 20th century, the subject the famous and unique twin Thatcher Island lighthouses (also known as Cape Ann Light Station), about one mile off the coast of Rockport, Massachusetts. The lighthouses were erected in 1861 as a pair, thereby aiding navigation by mariners. Each is 124 feet in height...

Oil on canvasboard painting of a green coast, a stand of foreground trees in late autumn colors giving fine depth to the scene. The artist did not sign the work, which likely dates to the 1950's judging from frame and board. There is a small area of flaked paint in the trunk of the most prominent tree. Overall a nicely done work that would be improved with a gold frame. Measurements are 20" by 24" and 26" by 30" framed.

Early twentieth century impressionist painting of one of New Orleans' famous courtyard subjects, 9 1/4" by 7" as framed, signed at lower right corner "Don Juan". While an interesting name to be sure, I have not been able to find a listed artist corresponding to it. The work though is by an obviously trained and talented hand. The vintage frame makes all in all for a very satisfying little painting sure to please the New Orleans fan. The surface is soiled evenly, consistent with age...

Found recently in Maine, this is an antique oil on board painting, 12" by 14 3/4" as framed, unsigned, the subject purple grapes and a ripe peach, the autumnal grape leaf suggesting the season of harvest, all on a marble ledge or table, with a distant view beyond. The gray academy board, style and framing suggest a date of execution of about 1880. The painting is very American in feeling, bordering on folk art as there's a naivete. The frame has wear and an obvious loss at lower left corner...

Old, antique oil on fine weave canvas laid on board painting of trees, distant small structures and a wooden footbridge in the foreground crossing a stream, 17 3/4" by 23 3/4" (23" by 29" as framed), apparently unsigned, and likely executed at the end of the 19th century. The rather naïve painting is very mellow and easy to live with; a classic antique American old landscape. The surface is evenly soiled, consistent with age, giving the painting that old patina...

Oil on canvas still life of red roses on a table with ceramic vessel, 17" by 39" as framed. The painting is executed in the Victorian style, but I think it probably dates to the final years of the 19th century or early years of the 20th. I cannot find a signature. There is a framer's stamp on the stretcher from Grand Rapids, Michigan, giving some hint as to its origin perhaps...

Oil on board painting of trees in a landscape, 11" by 9" in narrow original frame, signed at lower right by listed artist "A. KLUG". The painting is executed in a very impressionist hand, and is quite lovely, but is also very dirty. A professional cleaning would really be well worthwhile investment. The frame being old is showing its age, with losses as seen. The artist is listed in Davenport's dictionary of artists but there does not seem to be much information available on him or her.

Richly impressionistic painting on canvas of a small pond surrounded by autumn foliage, 9" by 12" (16" by 19" framed), signed at lower right by contemporary California-based artist RON McKEE (1931-) and dedicated on the stretcher and dated there 1987. McKee is a popular impressionist, his body of work including landscape, coastals, floral gardens and European Mediterranean ports. This work is fresh and clean and absolutely wall-ready in its gold framing. McKee's works have been reproduced in ...

Oil on canvas painting of an elegantly dressed lady on a terrace or balcony, a Parisian-style table and chairs with champagne bottle at left, 36" by 18, unsigned and unframed. This Matisse-inspired work was likely painted circa 1970's by a talented amateur artist. The violets, blues and white make for a harmonious color balance and the light is suffused rather than intense and sharp. The painting is slightly soiled and dull consistent with its age but is otherwise ready for display; a frame w...

Unsigned oil on canvas, circa 1970's or 1980's, unframed, 28" by 22", the subject a ceremonial dance mask and head wear such as might be seen in use in the course of special events on one of the reservations in Arizona or New Mexico. During the late 1980's I was at Zia Pueblo in New Mexico, and was privileged to watch one of these ceremonies. The work is colorful and includes many classic iconic symbols of the Southwest, such as the thunderbird, the snake, the saguaro cactus, tipi, and possibl...