An oil on board painting of flowers in a green vase against a tan/brown background, signed at lower left with monogram of a capital "B" in a circle. The oil, 12" by 9" and 16 1/2" by 13 1/2" framed, was beautifully painted by an unknown hand. For a number of years I have attempted to learn the identity of the artist, so far without success. The board size and handwriting on reverse suggest the artist was American...

A PAIR of ink on wove paper drawings apparently by the same anonymous talented artist, one work featuring a southern American-looking old historic style home, the other a fountain in a southern European street scene (probably Italy). I opened the items and determined that there is no signature of any kind, nor any other indication of authorship. The home scene has pencil sketching on the reverse, possibly a very sketchy, preliminary architectural plan drawing...

If you are a decorator looking for a "look" without spending the bigger money, here is an interesting option: a PAIR of works (11 3/4" by 22" framed) that for all the world, look like antique Italian watercolors of the 19th century, featuring coastal ruins and boats in Naples waters with Vesuvius in the distance, and a coastal scene with Capri offshore...

Poignant early handmade drawing of pink and white flowers (lilies of the valley and?) painted in gouache within an oval set off by golden mat, the words "BIRTHDAY GREETINGS FROM YOUR LOVING DAUGHTER ALICE" around the central image. The oval measures 4 3/4" by 6 3/4" and the entire work as framed 11 3/4" by 14 1/4". This is a work from another time, when people were less likely or less able to go to a store to buy a gift. Such a gift is the best of all gifts and the most heartfelt...

Oil on canvas Asian painting of a rural landscape in tropical Indonesia, 19 1/2" by 27 1/2" (24 1/2" by 32 1/2" framed), two female figures at center washing in the small lake or pond, a towering mountain range piercing the clouds in the distance, bamboo thicket at right, and a flaming flamboyan or poinciana tree at left, signed at lower left "M. DULLAH". This is a circa 1960's or 1970's work, most likely. The last name is common in Indonesia...

Old ink and watercolor drawing of early 19th century men and a boy pictured in an English interior, executed probably early years of the 20th century, signed "O. Krause" and also bearing the word "Copy", 6 1/2" by 6" inside the opening in black glass eglomise style "mat", 10 1/4" by 9" as it was originally framed. The drawing seems to me to be after perhaps an original illustration in a Charles Dickens (or other English author of the period) book...

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...

A charming drawing of a village square and church, in graphite, a little wash, and perhaps chalk, on mellow, soft laid paper, 10 1/2" by 8 1/2" (17 1/4" by 13 1/2" in inexpensive modern framing), signed at lower right by the French artist and illustrator RENE ROUSSEL (1885-1962). The artist though undeniably talented, has unfortunately and unjustly become obscure, little known to today's collectors. It took an internet search to find his birth and death dates and assemble a biography of sorts...

An ink on paper drawing of a man holding a cigarette, unsigned, 6 3/8 " by 5 3/4" inside the mat (12 1/2" by 10 1/2" simply framed). When I first saw this my thoughts drifted to accomplished ink line drawings by the American master artist Ben Shahn, or, possibly, German Expressionism (Georg Grosz, etc.). The drawing was found in Oregon, with no further information available. It probably dates to about 1950 give or take a few years, and is probably American...

A French painting on Masonite of orchids, in a detailed, "fool the eye" ("trompe l'oeil" as it's known in French) style, 9" by 7" (18 1/2" by 16" in circa 1950's quality closed-corner gold framing), signed rather illegibly at lower right in the wet paint. For some time I have attempted to decipher this signature but have come up short. Obviously the painter is skilled; note the detailed and realistic water droplets on the flowers...

Banksy is world-renowned for graffiti art with political themes and dark humor. His spontaneously-appearing works are found on walls, and bridges in many nations, and his art has become a worldwide cultural phenomenon, genuine paintings and prints bringing very large sums at auction. This work, on canvas, unframed, measures 8" by 24", is not a genuine work of the artist, but could be said to be in his style. Very contemporary in feeling, we see a heart at left with a figure with spiked hair a...

This is a fine pastel drawing of a young girl of about 3 looking directly at the viewer, the work signed at lower right by the Canadian master artist NICHOLAS DE GRANDMAISON (1892-1978). It measures 17 3/4" by 14" inside the mat (28 1/2" by 24" as framed). The artist is considered an important contributor to Canadian art history, his pastel drawings of Native peoples bringing into five figures at auctions. De Grandmaison was born in Moscow to nobility. He was an officer in the Russian army i...

Watercolor and gouache on paper, 4 1/2" by 12 1/4", (10" by 17 3/4" in modern framing), apparently unsigned, but I believe likely by a member of the talented and prolific GIANNI Italian painter family. There are a number of painters going under the name "Gianni", possibly from the same family. Many works of such southern Italian scenes are signed M. Gianni, others Y. Gianni. The auction houses I think have generally mixed up these late 19th/first half of the 20th century painters and the aucti...

One of a number of William Russell Flint prints in my shop, this is a fresh and clean example of the fine Flint photolithographs issued for collectors over a period of decades. This example, published in 1957 in an edition of 700, is signed in pencil at lower right and bears the characteristic embossed blindstamp in lower left margin. The title is "Rosa and Marissa". The print measures 18 3/4" by 24 3/4" inside the mat and 27" by 33 1/2" as framed. The two models, artistically placed at opposit...

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. The painting...

Etching on paper, 5 1/2" by 3" inside the innermost mat, (12" by 9" in green and gold mats, as ready for framing--presently unframed), the title of the print "La Rue du Change, Tours", pencil signed at lower right margin by the artist and dated there 1924. Tours is an historical old city of about 135,000 south and west of Paris, considered a gateway to the Loire Valley chateau region. This is a fine impression of the particular print, of which 156 were made. The artist is the important Ameri...

Watercolor on paper painting of the the pyramids of Giza, including graceful date palms towering over a neighboring oasis village. A camel, a donkey and several small figures complete the picturesque scene, which is signed at lower left by listed artist DAVID VASSILIOU. Vassiliou's biography is not extensive but he was evidently a prolific painter at mid century, most works featuring Egypt, Greece and the Mediterranean region. He seems to have most often signed with a distinctive capital "W" f...