This is an apparently very early work in sanguine chalk (8 1/2" by 11", unframed, affixed at top edge behind an old mat) by the well listed Chicago-born artist WALTER KAMYS (1917-), now known for his modernist paintings executed in an "abstract impressionist" style. Kamys went to Central America and Mexico at a young age in 1942, there becoming friendly with the important English surrealist Gordon Onslow Ford. This proved to be crucial to the evolution of Kamys' mature style...

Crayon drawing of two nude females, 13 1/2" by 9 1/2" inside the mat, 20" by 16" framed, bearing at lower right the stamped atelier signature of the important French artist ACHILLE-EMILE OTHON FRIESZ (1879-1949). On the reverse, a modern label gives the title as "Nude with Veil". Friesz was born in Le Havre to a family of shipbuilders and sea captains...

Pastel on paper laid on board, the subject fruits and a porcelain cup on a tabletop, a vase with at top center, 20" by 15 1/2" (27" by 23" as framed), signed at lower right "Olds" (MARION VALE OLDS 1901-1993). The work is a fine example by this talented woman artist, the cramped artistic space and carefully thought-out arrangement of the objects in that space indicative of an artist of great talent who is taking from Cezanne as well as the WPA (I would guess the age as circa 1930's or 1940's)...

Vintage charming pastel on old paper, 12" by 8", the scene a quiet city street or lane with 19th century buildings, signed at lower right by the artist, E. R. VAN DEMAN, and dated 1901. Rather little information on the artist appears on the net, but a member of the board of the Delaware County Historical Society in Ohio contacted me to say that the organization has seven of her pastels in their collection, the subjects local places circa 1900...

Found in eastern Maine, a fine old still life pastel, the image including an orange, dark blue grapes, a walnut in the shell, and a metal vessel. At lower right are the words "GOOD SHEPHERD BAY VIEW" (???), but no signature. Circa 1900 date of execution judging from frame, which is dark stained walnut with gilt inner fillet. Size 9 1/4" by 12 3/4" (13" by 16 1/2" framed). Allow for a few reflections and some dust on the glass.

This is a fine pastel on paper work, 9" by 11 1/2" inside the mat, 15 1/4" by 17 1/4" as simply framed in wood, the subject a low desert with saguaro cactus near a desert wash at right center, a range of brooding desert peaks in the distance. The work is signed by the artist on the original mat at lower left corner. Condition of the drawing is superb...

This is a drawing of traditional subject matter in a contemporary style, evidently by a youngster who lived at the Taos Pueblo in northern New Mexico. Measuring 7 3/8" by 11 1/2" inside the present mat (12 5/8" by 17 1/2" as framed), the image is of a bison with a stylized sun at upper left, and scattered stylized trees, with a multi story adobe at lower right serving as the Pueblo itself. On the reverse is written "Age 13/Taos Day School/New,Mexico 87511/Taos Pueblo/U.S.A."...

A finely worked original pastel of a Native American girl dancing in an interior defined by an arch, the work signed at lower left by artist CARLOS FREY (1938-). The piece is in remarkable condition, bearing framing label from Nebraska stating that it was framed to museum standards. Frey has a website outlining his long career in the arts. He works in many media, including photography, and sells originals and various types of reproductions of his works...

From our European Collection, a beautiful mid-late 19th Century pastel under glass rendering of a young woman with a pensive gaze, flower in her hair, and time piece in hand, framed in a wonderful gilt-carved and gesso Period frame of the era, with very ornate ribboning at the top. Artist unknown and unsigned, but Continental School 19th century for certain...

A contemporary pastel on paper work, the subject appearing to be the familiar and much-loved canals of Amsterdam in The Netherlands. Canal boats, arching bridge and a church tower in the distance complete the scene. The work measures 9 1/2" by 12 1/2" (13 1/4' by 15 3/4" in simple frame, behind glass---no mat). There is no signature but the artist was able to handle a piece of chalk. The work demonstrates fine handling of the light and reflections...

PAIR of original drawings of a traditionally dressed Moroccan man and woman, executed in pastel, each 10" by 7 3/4" (16 1/2" by 14 1/4" as framed), each signed by the noted American artist LOUIS J. ENDRES (1896-1989) and bearing the notation "Maroc". Endres hailed from Cincinnati and studied with Frank Duveneck. By his late 20's he was to be found in North Africa, in Morocco, where he found a wealth of artistic subject matter that continued to engage him throughout his life...

Pastel on paper on board, of grapes and an apple on the ground, 11 7/8" by 9 3/4" and a simple narrow frame, unsigned, but very likely by noted mid 19th century American artist JOHN S. BOWER, known today primarily for his very distinctive studies of fruit in a landscape. See my shop for several other works by this artist, some of which are signed. A number of works by him have passed through the Skinner auction house in Boston over the years, placed in Americana and folk art sales...

Pastel on thin paper board seascape of waves and distant shipping on a gray, overcast day, 10" by 18" (15" by 23" as framed) signed at lower left "Mangold". This is an early work by an obviously talented artist who does not appear to be "listed". This pastel comes with its original old early 20th century frame. There is a circa 1920's or 1930's red circular Seattle framing sticker on the reverse. The work has a definite East Coast appearance; indeed I thought it would be by a Hudson River ar...

A large pastel on paper drawing of a fetching young woman, signed at lower left by CESAR AMORSOLO (1903-1998), a well listed artist and nephew of the Philippine master artist Fernando Amorsolo. Cesar, the son of Alejandro Amorsolo, brother of Fernando, was born in Manila. Orphaned at age six, he lived with his famous uncle and assisted him for some thirty years. Cesar attended the University of the Philippines School of Fine Arts in the 1930's. Cesar himself went on to exhibit in Manila and ...

Pastel and gouache mixed media work on red paper, measuring 18 1/4" by 13 1/2" plus thin old black wood frame, signed at lower right with what appears to be "Macero Arbuckle" and dated '04 (1904). I don't see any information on the artist. This is an interesting illustration work that is quite subtle, and being subtle, doesn't lend itself to being photographed easily. Condition is excellent. There is an old sticker on glass at lower left corner with "13" written on it.

If one conducts an internet search for the English twentieth century artist Bettina Shaw-Lawrence, one finds her name mingled with some of England's modern art greats, (and literature notables, as well), she knew Lucian Freud, Cedric Morris, David Kentish, the Surrealist poet David Gascoyne.......and studied with the likes of Fernand Leger and Ossip Zadkine. The artist passed away in Italy in 2018 at the age of 97, and her art is seemingly ignored by the auction world, but, as part of the East ...

Nicely drawn impressionistic drawing of fresh peaches, the leaves still attached, apparently unsigned and measuring 8 1/2" by 11 1/2" (11 1/2" by 14 1/2" framed in oak). Would look attractive in a pantry or breakfast nook. Squarish light area at top is a reflection only.

An old pastel drawing of a New England landscape in winter, 11 1/2" by 17 1/2" (18 1/2" by 22" framed), signed at lower right "MORRIS". The work is after the noted American artist GEORGE HENRY DURRIE (1820-1863). The heartwarming scene of Americana includes yellow house at right, yellow and red outbuildings, sleighs, split rail fence, tiny figures and bare trees. It could also be in imitation of Currier and Ives lithographs of Durrie's works. Condition is excellent; needs to be re-mounted as...