"Western Hills" oil on board 12" x 16". Henry Martin Gasser was born in Newark, New Jersey on Oct. 31,1909. He lived, studied and worked in New Jersey for his entire life. He was a painter, lecturer, teacher, illustrator and author. A Master at watercolor and oil his work consisted of, in his own words, "everyday subjects that are available to most of us-street scenes, back yards, trees, old houses, etc I looked for them in front of houses, in backyards, public parks, and elsewhere"...

Oil on canvas painting of white and pink roses in a blue bowl, signed at lower right "Strachan". The work, measuring 18" by 24" and 23" by 28 1/2" in likely original frame, has tiny losses in background and lower left area. The frame also has light wear, and losses on back of left edge. Overall, a very shabby chic piece in feeling. There is an old Los Angeles framer's sticker on reverse backing.

Oil on canvas scene of a flower-bedecked coastline, 24" by 30", unframed, signed at lower right by the noted, popular, prolific California contemporary artist, GARY RAY (1952-). This is an impressive example of Ray's work, with a thick, rich impasto, and size larger than most. The scene reminds of the Santa Barbara or Laguna Beach regions. Ray is a 4th generation Californian, born in Venice near Santa Monica...

Vermont Summer Day - Oil on linen - landscape painting by Mark Tougias (American, born 1957 - present), 25 inches x 30 inches. A wonderful cloud study of a bucolic Vermont panorama in summer. Mark Tougias was born in Springfield, MA, in 1957. He is self-taught and is known for his plein-aire landscapes of the New England countryside and for his tonal styles. He has exhibited widely throughout New England and has painted and traveled extensively in Europe...

This painting measures 18"x 24". Helen LaFrance is a self-taught, modern, contemporary artist who is 99 years of age. Her earliest known painting is a 12’x20’ mural inside of a local church that was made circa the late 40's and early 50’s and she continued to paint into the early 2000's. LaFrance’s work is represented in many notable public and private collections in this country and in Europe...

Oil on canvas laid on board painting of San Juan Capistrano mission in Orange County, California, 5" by 5", 7" by 12 1/4" in period pie crust frame. Written in pencil in old hand on the tattered framing paper is "San Capistrano Mission". Although unsigned, the handling, subject matter and color palette are unquestionably of the hand of the noted California prolific painter RICHARD DETREVILLE (1864-1929)...

Oil on canvasboard painting of flowers, vase and pot, 9 3/4" by 13 1/2" (14" by 18" framed), signed at lower right "L. E. Thackery". No listed artist comes up with a search for this name, but that does not diminish the quality of the work itself, which probably dates to about the 1940's. There are two missing small areas of paint at left, otherwise condition is excellent. The frame post-dates the art and is pleasant and complementary.

Oil on canvas California coastal landscape, in extremely poor condition, in need of someone to love it and preserve it. The work measures 19" by 22" (23" by 26" framed), and is signed at lower right J... WITT. From comparison to a fully signed painting, I can say that this is a work of listed California artist JESSIE R. DeWITT...

An early 20thC oil on canvas by Rhode Island artist, Emma Lavinia Swan ( 1853-1927). This is an atypical and rare scene since Swan is noted from her floral paintings. It appears to have its original black wood frame. Signed in the lower right hand corner. The canvas measures 9" x 9"; frame 17" x 17". Listed/Davenports.

Fredric Schafer classic view of Yosemite from inspiration point. # 7 in the Schafer Catalog. Oil on canvas approx. 26 x 36.

biography

Born in Braunschweig, Germany on Aug. 16, 1839. Schafer may have studied art in Düsseldorf since his paintings resemble those of other Düsseldorf-trained artists; however, he is believed to have been self-taught. He came to the U.S. in 1876 and arrived in San Francisco in 1880...

Oil on masonite, 18" by 24", (23" by 29" as framed), the subject a copper kettle on a small wooden stand on a table, with a cup and saucer, small blue milk pitcher and poinsettia in a decorative blue vase filling out the scene. The painting is signed at lower right "L...

Oil on canvas painting, 20" by 28" (24" by 32" framed), the subject a great clipper ship of the 19th century silhouetted against the setting sun (or dawn) on a calm sea. The painting is signed at lower left by the artist, William P. Lawrence and is dated below that either 1938 or 1928; difficult to discern. I don't see that he is a listed artist but obviously he was talented. The scene has a fine luminosity and clearly shows the painter's understanding of light and backlighting. CONDITION: ...

A classic painting of the California desert and mountains, oil on Masonite, 12" by 15" (15" by 18" in vintage old frame possibly carved by artist), signed lower left by noted California impressionist JOSEPH FREY (1892-1977). This is likely a view looking west towards the towering 11,000 foot high Mt. San Jacinto massif which looms over Palm Springs. The artist has interestingly painted in a "liner" border in a cream color; this is part of the painting and not a linen liner. The artist was bor...

Oil on tin sheet painting of a man in cowboy hat, titled on reverse backing "The Old Hat", 16" by 12" (22 1/2" by 18 3/4" framed), signed at lower right and again on the backing, by the well known artist of the American Southwest, RAMON KELLEY (born 1939). This is a sensitively painted work of a subject obviously very familiar to the artist. Kelley studied on a scholarship at the Colorado Institute of Art in Denver, where he counted the artist Charlie Dye among his instructors. A Taos, New Me...

"Still Life 3 Urns and Flowers" 24 x 20" Oil on canvas. Andre Gisson was born with the name Anders Gittleson, in Brooklyn, New York but lived in Westport, Connecticut for most of his life. He traveled extensively and studied throughout Europe and the Far East. Mr. Gittleson was a leading American realist painter. He graduated from the Pratt Institute and was a Captain in the Army during WWII. Over 4 decades his one man shows extended from New York, Washington, Texas, and California to London, Pa...

Oil on canvas painting of pink roses in a glass vase with metal kettle on a table top, 20" by 24" (25 1/2" by 29 1/2" framed), signed at lower right by artist Nell Smith. I do not see a listing for this name. The age of the painting judging by style, frame and stretcher would be circa 1940. Condition is good save for overall soiling and a roughly 1 3/4" narrow paint loss area at top right. Overall a very "Shabby Chic" work.

Painting on canvas by the acclaimed 19th century American artist HENRY STULL, featuring a portrait of the head of a pampered thoroughbred racehorse, signed at lower right and dated there 1896. The work measures 12 1/2" by 10 1/4", (16 1/2" by 15" framed). Stull is considered one of two major American painters of thoroughbred racehorses, the other being Edward Troye. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, he was exposed at an early age to horses. By 1873 he headed to New York City to become an ac...

Joseph Mortimer Lichtenauer, Jr. (American, 1876-1966 )

Moods

Oil on canvas, signed and dated lower left corner “Lichtenauer 1904.”

Painting: 28” x 40”

Frame:

Born in New York City, Joseph Mortimer Lichtenauer studied at the Art Students League with Mowbray before moving to Paris where he entered the Académie Julian. There he studied under Merson and Laurens. Additional years of travel and study in Florence, Italy no doubt influenced his tastes, evi...