Oil on canvas painting titled at lower left "Morn. nr. Frinsbury Kent", signed at lower right "Alf. Bennett 87" (and titled again and signed again by the artist on the reverse canvas), 20" by 30" (27" by 36" as framed). The scene feature a filled hay barge at left with two figures aboard, two houses in the middle distance, and tall ships in the far distance. Frinsbury is in southeastern England, east south east of London, not far from the mouth of the River Thames...

Oil on pine wood panel, 6 1/2" by 8 1/2" (11" by 13" in old frame), unsigned, the subject figures in a clearing surrounded by feathery trees, a tiny brush stroke also indicating the presence of a scampering dog accompanying the small party. A charming old antique work in the Hudson River tradition; disappointing not to have found a signature, but I would think the artist listed. The painting has normal old light soiling, and the frame has some edge chips missing in a few places...

In the style of masters like William Harnett, John F. Peto, Otto Kaye and others, this is a painting of an ink bottle, old style fountain pen, pipe and matches, stamped envelope and calendar, signed at lower right "Roy Fay". The letter, in the trompe l'oeil" (French for "fool the eye") tradition, is addressed to himself, in "Pasadena, Cal", and is interestingly postmarked in Kansas. The calendar is from the "Ohio Grocery", of Pasadena, and the calendar sheet reads November 1912...

French late 19th century oil on canvas still life of flowers in various vessels on a tabletop, signed at upper right corner "J. Billou" (the "J" could be a "G" or "T"). Oddly I do not see a listing that would correspond with this name, but this is clearly a talented artist. The work measures 19 1/2" by 24" (22 1/2" by 27" framed). The colors and handling remind of some Renoir still life paintings. This was found "as-is" in northern New Jersey...

A contemporary painting featuring the streets of Paris' famous Montmartre, the dome of white Sacre Coeur cathedral towering over narrow streets filled with pedestrians. The work measures 10 1/2" by 8 1/2" (12 3/4" by 10 1/2" as framed in black). The work is signed at lower right "Georges" and on reverse is written "Georges---Paris---2010/Montmartre". Condition of painting is excellent but lower left corner of frame shows some damage and there is scuffing elsewhere. Paint it black or reframe.

A most unusual modern painting----oil and sand on canvas, 48" by 32" including the frame, which, painted on all edges, can be considered an integral part of the work. The subject is most impressively complex---abstract yet suggestive of perhaps a central fish, or primitive ethnographic art imagery....all in a controlled palette of gray, muted rust red, white, black, and a touch of yellow...

Oil on board landscape, unsigned, the subject a panorama of red rock cliffs and distant butte, likely in Arizona, or possibly Utah, the scene framed by tree at right. The work has some age, a guess would place this circa 1955 to about 1965. Certainly it is good enough to have been painted by a listed artist. The condition is acceptably good...

A scarce oil on canvas PAINTING (not the usual prints seen), signed at lower left by the noted French 20th century impressionist painter CHARLES BLONDIN (1913-1991). Blondin was active in Paris in the post war years, painting and creating very popular editions of prints which he numbered and hand signed, and oil paintings as well. This work measures 8 3/4" by 10 1/2" (14 1/2" by 16" in appropriate mid century frame). Condition is excellent. Probably dates to late 1950's or early 1960's...

Haitian art is rightly popular for its color and exotic subject matter. This little painting, 9 1/4" by 7 1/4', set into a larger quality frame/mat, 22" by 19 3/4", depicts a thatched roof hut, figures carrying items on their heads, and lush tropical mountains and vegetation. The artist signed his name "Serge Louis" and the date 1995. The painting is exceptionally clean and ready to hang on the wall.

Oil on canvasboard circa 1960 painting of a variety of flowers in a ceramic yellow vase artistically placed on a textile with another ceramic vessel nearby, signed at lower left "Betty Way". The work, which measures 24" by 18", also bears a label on the reverse with the artist's name and address in Springfield, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. To date I have not located a known artist by this name. A Betty Way of Harrisburg, PA was a newspaper circulation manager...

Oil on panel painting of pink desert mountains and flowering dunes in the foreground, 16" by 20" (25" by 29" in wood carved frame), signed in the paint at lower left with a signature that appears as "Bo W(xxxxxxx)". The circa 1960 oil is by an artist who certainly must have been familiar with the palette knife California desert scenes, with rich impasto, of John Hilton (1904-1983). The style and feeling is similar. The painting could benefit from a cleaning, after fifty years...

Oil on canvasboard painting, 14" by 18" (17 1/2" by 21 1/2" in simple wood frame), signed on the reverse by artist James E. Carson of Andover, Massachusetts and titled there "Lobster Cove". This is a peaceful scene, most likely of the Lobster Cove near Annisquam and Gloucester, MA, but I see there is also a Lobster Cove in Maine. Regardless of the exact location, this is a classic scene of New England, captured by a talented artist. There is a listed illustrator by this name but I cannot dete...

The pair of antique paintings will make for a highly decorative addition to a home. One of the apparently unsigned and undated works features mostly vegetables, with a game bird and possibly a fish, while in the other work, fruit predominates. The rustic paintings were executed by a competent though not highly refined hand. Measurements are similar but not identical. The vegetable piece measures 19 1/2" by 28" and 26" by 34 1/4" framed; the fruit work 23 1/2" by 31 3/4" and 31" by 39" frame...

Oil on canvas painting of pears and glass vase with flowers arranged artistically on white and striped cloths, signed at lower right and again on the reverse side of the canvas by listed American woman artist SUSAN CROOK INGERSOLL (1908-). The unframed work measures 22" by 18" and is in very good condition, with just a bit of stretcher bar show-through. Colors are vivid and rich, and the modernity of the arrangement is striking. To a certain extent, there is some resemblance to the naturalism...

An oil on canvas painting of a young prince or son born of a noble family, 30" by 24 3/4", unframed, unsigned. The boy's face to my eye reminds of Goya, so perhaps this could be of Spanish origin (though, "FRANCE" is written on the stretcher in modern hand). The painting was relined sometime in the mid 20th century. There are some scratches at upper right which appear as white marks in the photos, some minor edge losses at lower left, and there is an even craquelure over much of the surface.

An 18th or early 19th century painting of a noble gentleman, oil on canvas, 30 1/2" by 23 1/2" on the stretchers 35" by 27 3/4" framed. This work does not appear to be actually signed, though there is much writing in blurred old ink on the stretcher in old German hand, seemingly identifying the sitter. The old style script and the way the ink has spread into the wood makes it all difficult to read. I do see, I think, "Franz Joseph Augustin von Stichner" or similar, and elsewhere the word "...

A contemporary painting in semi-abstract style, the image apparently of a horse and his flowing mane, staring at the viewer. The work is unsigned. Acrylic on canvas, 16" by 20" (a regular size, easily framed). A twist on equine art.

An oil on canvas painting of a clipper in full sail on the high seas, 16" by 20" (19 3/4" by 23 3/4" framed), signed at lower right in red by artist PAUL MASON and dated there with what appears as 1936. The work features attractive impressionist technique and colors. A search for information on the artist was not productive. There is a framer's label from Boston's Beacon Hill area, so we can likely assume that the artist was a New Englander. The surface is dry and there are some tiny losses ...