A beautiful, accomplished watercolor landscape painting of a gully with running water, 10 1/2" by 14 1/2" (19" by 22 1/2" in early 20th century gold frame), signed at lower left by the noted California art pioneer WILLIAM LEES JUDSON (1842-1928). The work is in unusually fresh condition, the colors true and not faded. I note a small, obviously very old water drop at extreme upper right, where the tree line meets the right edge...

An American contemporary theorem still life painting in the traditional 19th century familiar style, signed by artist Esther M. Attridge and dated on reverse framing paper 1973. The work measures 10 1/2" by 13 1/2" and about 12 1/2" by 15 1/2" in the gold framing. Some contemporary artists have made names for themselves by copying the old American folk art theorem style. Similar works by one latter-day artist named David Ellinger are highly sought after and are auctioned...

Oil on Masonite painting of coastal rocks and waves, framed in an interesting and appealing vintage wood frame, signed at lower right by artist J. Wessely. I do not see a listing for the artist, who created an attractive and dynamic composition. The painting measures 18" by 24" (22 3/4" by 28 3/4" framed). It could date to about the early 1950's, judging from frame and board. The frame has a rugged, "Cabin Art" feeling with bold outdoorsy carving...

Oil on canvas painting of what appear to be roses or possibly peonies in a vase on a tabletop, signed with initials at extreme lower right, and measuring 15" by 12 1/2" (19 1/2" by 17" framed). At first glance this appears to be a fine old vintage work of the 19th century or even earlier, but closer inspection reveals that this is actually a late 20th century work painted in that earlier style, including the detailed drops of water on the leaves...

Circa 1950's oil on canvas of a mountain with cross on top, and what could be a small body of water in the foreground, painted in an impressionist hand. The scene could possibly be Mount Cristo Rey, a landmark with Christ cross on the summit, at the extreme southeast corner of New Mexico, overlooking the El Paso, Texas area. The work measures 16" by 18" and 21 1/2" by 24" framed. Sadly this became badly damaged at some point, with catastrophic tears through the composition...

Oil on wood panel landscape in the Netherlands, 13" by 10" (22" by 19" in old, likely original frame), signed at lower left corner by the listed American artist and illustrator EDWIN H. KIEFER (1860-1931). This antique painting features a classic windmill, and a woman classically dressed, carrying a basket, in the left foreground. The late 19th century work is very dirty; a cleaning would work wonders. There is a long vertical crack in the panel at upper left as shown...

A fine color gouache landscape drawing in the Old Master 17th century style, the imagery including feathery trees, old classical buildings, a roaring river, mountains, and two tiny figures at center. There is no signature though on the old backing in an old hand someone wrote "Claude" (an acknowledged and widely recognized reference to Claude Le Gellee Lorrain (c. 1600-1682), a highly important French classic master of such scenery)...

Brooks Pettus (1918-2003) was a noted western American artist who passed away in Kennewick, Washington, leaving behind a large body of work in watercolor and oil that only recently appeared on the market. Pettus earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of New Mexico, and spent time in Albuquerque and Taos in the early 1940's. New Mexico's artistically inspiring landscape stimulated Pettus' aesthetic sense as it has for countless others...

Something of a mystery piece that has resided for some time in my inventory, a pastel on paper, 7 1/4" by 18 1/2" (13" by 22" in a simple protective frame), with old penciled title on reverse of thin card "Monomy Beach", and with modern inscription in red ballpoint: "I OWNED THIS WATERCOLOR BEFORE DAMAGED - IT WAS SIGNED LOWER RT. A. T. BRICHER (signed) Bob Venger 28 Feb '82". Nearby, written in blue ballpoint, is "BRICHER"...

An interesting and skilfully painted work, depicting a potted cactus on a wood strip floor, evidently in some kind of attic room open to the outside via a door, the result being an image with interesting detail, light, and mystery. Oil on canvas, unframed, the piece measures 28" by 22", and it is unsigned but likely painted circa the last twenty years...

Gouache on paper painting of a lush tropical scene with a few figures and thatched huts under mysterious palm trees, signed at lower right "KOPP" and the word "Rio" after it. This work was likely created in the 1960's or early 1970's at latest, in Brazil. There is no glass nor mat; over time, at top center left in the tree line, and in the sky, the work acquired small paint loss areas, which are overwhelmed b the busyness of the scenery---and they are easily touched up. Measurements 12 1/2" b...

Offered as a pair, pastel drawings of fruit (an apple, and an orange), each signed by contemporary Alabama studio artist JOHN KELLEY. The drawings are each 4" by 4", and 11" by 9" as framed in light wood. Kelley was born in St. Louis but moved to a rural area near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he works diligently, producing paintings and drawings of fruit, four seasons landscape, and portraits. Technically very adept, Kelley has kept a low profile. A fun and whimsical website including blog sho...

Oil on paper painting, 5 1/2" by 3 3/4" (12 1/2" by 9 3/4" framed), signed at lower right by the noted Alaska artist JEANNE LAURENCE. Jeanne Laurence (1887-1980) was the wife of the famous Alaskan artist Sydney Laurence, and the author of the book "My Life with Sydney Laurence". Jeanne was a talented artist in her own right, her reputation overshadowed by her husband's wide renown in Alaska and beyond. Often she painted, in gouache, Alaskan wildflowers, but landscapes in oil are known, and th...

Circa 1880's painting in oil on a 14" diameter papier mache style plate, unsigned, featuring a winter scene at dusk. This charming antique work by an anonymous artist has nice detail and light. The artist was not professional but certainly had some training and a good eye for color and composition. The work has acquired some small losses, showing as white spots in the imagery, and along the rim. See old original label on reverse with 1880 patent date. Found in coastal New Jersey.

PAIR of watercolor paintings of young women, one walking on a path, appearing very young, sweet and naive, a pitcher in hand (possibly a milk maid), the other a more sophisticated lady in a sun bonnet and elegant dress, watering can in hand, attending to her potted geraniums. Although the works themselves are of the same size, and frames are identical in style, the frames differ slightly in size. The lady in bonnet measures 12" by 7 3/4" (19 1/2" by 15 1/2" framed), the other, 12 1/4" by 7 3/4...

Mixed media on panel painting of two horses tethered to a small tree in a desert landscape, unsigned, 10 1/4" by 13 3/4" (18 1/2" by 21 3/4" in black complementary frame). The painting, according to its previous owner, came from a large group of mostly signed works (in Oro Grande, CA where both artists painted) of the noted, well listed California and western artist JIMMY SWINNERTON (1875-1974). It was also suggested that the painting could be by his painting buddy and friend in the area, BILL...

Watercolor on heavy, pebbled paper, 8 7/8" by 6 1/2" (13 1/4" by 11" in simple framing), signed at lower right and dated there 1830 by the listed French artist JOSEPH FRICERO (1807-1870). The subject is a young, bearded man who appears almost as a religious figure. The drawing is heavily foxed in the field, adding to its antiquity. Some words are written in French on the reverse but the only one I can decipher is "bois" (wood). For a long time I had thought this possibly an Old Master drawin...

A watercolor with white gouache of a barn and another structure on an overcast, gray, snowy day, an old buckboard wagon at right center, the work signed below the mat GENE R DREW. I do not see a listing for the artist, who likely painted this around the year 1970 judging from the framing and non-glare type glass (which will be discarded before shipping). The piece, on Crescent art board, measures 18 3/4" by 25" inside the mat, and 25" by 31" in worn dark oak framing. The scene is poetic and p...