Pastel on paper laid on board drawing of trees and fields, a shed providing a human element, 7" by 9" (11" by 12 3/4" framed), signed at lower right "R. Nourse". This is a very fine little drawing with a touch of post-impressionist Van Gogh and other artists especially in the branches and trunks of the tall trees. The only listed artist with the name Nourse is Elizabeth Nourse...

Original impressionist pastel drawing of a French (I believe) street, (10 1/2" by 13 1/2" (17 1/2" by 20 1/2" framed), with outdoor tables under umbrellas, a fountain, cars, and cropped trees, signed with initials at lower right and dated there '86. This looks like a Mediterranean or southern scene, the shutters and little windows suggesting that to me. The word "Libre" is visible at right so that suggests France and not Italy. The artist knew how to handle a piece of chalk...

Finely executed pastel on paper drawing of bridges spanning a major river, presumably the Rhein in Germany, 11 1/2" by 15 1/2" (15 1/2" by 19 1/2" as framed), signed at lower left by listed German artist RUDOLF MULLER-GERHARDT (1873-1962) (and sometimes spelled as GERHARD). Though listed the artist is apparently not well known...

Pastel drawing of architecture and figures, 18" by 14 3/4", 23" by 19 1/2" as framed, signed at lower right "Frederick Millson". The architecture could be Spanish, as would be found in Southern California, or possibly more exotic, such as Islamic North Africa. This is an accomplished drawing in fine condition by an elusive artist about which there seems to be little to know. This and two other works by him came out of a San Fernando Valley estate (the others listed here)...

Pastel on paper drawing of desert mountains and cacti, 17" by 23" (24" by 30" framed), signed at lower right in pencil and dated there 1922 by listed southwestern American woman artist BETH MacLAFFERTY BLAKE (1901-1993). This would have been among the earlier works of an artist who was born in Berkeley, California and went on to become a well regarded talent in the Southwest. Blake was a pupil of Perham Nahl, Ray Boynton, Hans Hofmann, Chiura Obata, Karl Neuhaus and Millard Sheets...

Pastel on paper drawing of a rocky coastline with sailing craft offshore, apparently unsigned, 9 1/4" by 23", (16 3/4" by 31" as framed), circa 1900. The style of the drawing is reminiscent of that of American artists like Alfred Thompson Bricher (1837-1908). The popular and common pastel art of William Chandler also comes to mind. The work needs a new mat and the old acidic wood backing is best replaced. Otherwise for its age this work is in excellent condition.

Pastel on paper drawing of an attractive young blue-eyed, red-haired girl in white blouse with aqua bandana, apparently unsigned, 18 1/4" by 15" inside the mat, 25 1/2" by 22 1/4" in a modern gold frame with blue green mat and inner fillet...

Pastel on paper drawing of late autumn trees in a wooded landscape around a pond or small lake, 21 1/4" by 26 1/4" (31" by 36 1/2" framed), signed at lower right in all capital letters "CLAUDE REME". I don't see a listing by this name so the work stands on its own decorative powers, which are significant. There is a lot of atmosphere in this quiet scene, and the piece is big enough to power a wall on its own. Condition is excellent...

Pastel on gray paper affixed at edges to a linen-covered board, 21 3/4" by 25 1/2", unframed, signed at lower right in pencil "MARINO" and dated at lower left in European hand "1959". The image appears to be perhaps a highly abstracted horse or horse head, surrounded by abstracted imagery in electric blues, oranges, reds and greens...

Pastel drawing, unframed, 13 1/4" by 10" inside the mat, signed at lower right "Moran", the subject a small boat in a harbor, a headland in the distance crowned by a classic lighthouse. Primary colors are the colors of sunset...reds, oranges, yellow, brown..........the painting was purchased in the San Francisco Bay area but I have no idea as to the origin or identity of the artist. It is a work that shows the artist was skilled with pastel.

Pastel on paper colorful abstract pastel drawing, 15 1/2" by 19 1/2" inside the mat, 25 1/2" by 29 1/2" as framed, signed illegibly at lower right. The work is very modern and there's a lot of energy in the dramatic forms. No doubt this was created in the 1980's to maybe just a few years ago. The artist's signature is difficult to make out...

Pastel on paper drawing, 6" by 10" (12 1/2" by 17" in its original fine old gilt American 19th century frame), signed at lower right "Stubbs", the subject a man in a small rowboat rounding a headland reflecting in the waters, other boats beyond. This is a scarce, to judge from the auction records, early drawing by the noted American marine artist WILLIAM PIERCE STUBBS (1842-1909)...

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...

A fine pastel drawing of a small structure that appears to be almost adobe-like, surrounded by trees, signed at lower left and dated there 1970 by American artist WILLIAM BEAL (1914-1995). The work measures 9 3/4" by 14 1/4" (17 1/2" by 21 1/2" in silvery mid century frame). Beal was the son of important American artist Gifford Beal and nephew of Reynolds Beal...

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). ...

Pastel on paper of a rugged coast with crashing waves, 13 1/2" by 19 1/2", plus wood frame, signed at lower right by often-auctioned California artist CARL SAMMONS (1883-1968). Sammons is known among collectors for his impressionist landscapes, often of Northern California, but he also traveled to other parts of the state and throughout the Southwest. The artist was born in Nebraska and was in California by the year 1919, studying at the California School of Fine Arts. He lived in Oakland and...

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. This is a...

Pastel on paper, 19" by 25" (currently unframed), signed at bottom right by the noted American artist ELIOT CLARK (1883-1980). Images of the work have been examined by the recognized authority on Clark; he can provide me with a letter attesting to the authenticity of the piece. Clark was an artist who lived an extraordinarily long life; he was taught by John Twachtman, yet lived to see man walk on the moon. He was widely traveled, especially in the US, where he came to be known as one of the ...

Pastel drawing of a mountain landscape, 9 3/4" by 14 1/4" (17 1/2" by 21 1/2" as framed), signed at lower left corner with the name "I E Cutler". The scene is likely to be of Colorado as there is an old framer's sticker from Turner Art Gallery of Denver. Below that is what appears to be a date, in pencil, "2-19-31". Even though the frame is mid century, it appears that the old original backing paper with label was retained when the work was re-framed. I do not see a listing for this name but...

This is a fine pastel of a pair of dogs---Labradors possibly---(I welcome input from dog lovers)--one named at bottom "Lozi", the other, "Pamuzi", the drawing signed at lower left with what appears as "Janaa Olsen" or "Janaa Owen" or similar, and dated there 1988. It appears to be a portrait commissioned by an owner who was obviously very attached to these particular canines, who appear at this time to have been in the prime of their lives. On the reverse is a label from The Coln Gallery in En...

American circa 1910 or at least early twentieth century pastel on paper drawing of grapes, apples and a banana, 17" by 20 3/4" framed in an oval, unsigned. The work is typical of pastel still life of the period, though I do not believe it by the "Chandler" workshop. Modest homes of the period were lucky to have an original work of art rather than a print. This one has survived in very good condition. The frame has a bit of wear consistent with age, including a broken off piece of the outer r...

Pastel on paper, 11" by 23 1/2" (15 1/2" by 28" in its original stained oak veneer frame), unsigned, the subject a beautiful still life arrangement including a number of peaches and bananas in front of a tilted bowl or possibly basket. I think the work dates to about the year 1900 give or take a decade or two. Condition is excellent, with just a little pastel dust adhering to the glass. I recall having seen some time ago a photo of an oil of this exact arrangement, the painting being by Calif...

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. Ford introduced h...

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. The outer portion of the mat is browned and a bit discolored with age, but since the mat contains the signature, if you reframe you would want ...

Pastel on paper drawing of a blonde, very Nordic-looking woman, 17 1/2" by 13 1/2" (25 1/2" by 21 1/2" as framed), signed at lower left Ruth Sammons. I cannot find any information on the artist but she was surely talented. The drawing is very strong and in excellent, fresh condition, and it is very nicely framed with a burl wood type frame and quality matting. The only "Sammons" that comes to mind as a listed artist is Carl Sammons, the California plein air landscapist; I speculate, and it is...

Uncommonly exquisite, large original drawing in pastel, 25 1/2" by 19 1/2", 35 1/2" by 27 1/2" as professionally framed in bleached wood, signed at lower left and dated there '91 by the noted American artist LOU KOHL-MORGAN (1942-). Purchased recently in Portland, Maine, the work bears a gallery label from the Frick Gallery of Belfast, Maine. The title of the work is "Equinox". Frick Gallery on the central Maine coast was an active gallery in the late 1980's and early to mid 1990's. The arti...

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...

For the Judaica or Jewish art collector, a SET OF THREE original pastel on paper drawings, all signed in Hebrew and dated 1987 or 1989, all 13 1/4" by 9" (18 3/4" by 13 1/2" as framed), the subjects various ancient buildings in, I would imagine, Jerusalem or another historical city of Israel. I am unable to read Hebrew but a friend thought the signature was "M. Schnase" or something like that. Condition is excellent and in their crisp white mats and simple quality light wood frames, these are ...

Eugenia Grant's floral works in pastel are amazing achievements, often leading people to think they are prints. This is a glorious original work, 22" by 27", framed behind glass (28" by 33" framed), and signed at lower right. The realistic depiction of flowers, Asian porcelain vessels, patterned textile backdrop, and reflection in table top, is very impressive indeed. I have seen a number of works by this highly underrated artist, and they always feature this impressive attention to detail. ...

In the style of mid nineteenth century American folk art is this charming work (27 1/2" by 20 1/2"---33 1/2" by 26 1/2" framed) depicting a young lady with sun bonnet and scythe and wheat in hand, as if she has just come in from the fields. The pastel mastery is obvious; the artist, anonymous. The work is framed and behind heavy non-glare glass which tends to blur detail and is not generally safe to ship, as it is highly likely to shatter in transit. I propose removing this from frame for shi...

A fine contemporary 9" by 12" pastel (19" by 21 1/2" nicely framed) drawing titled "Mission Seating", of a sun-washed stone bench in the historic courtyard of Mission San Juan Capistrano in Southern California, signed at lower right by noted California Art Club artist KAY BONANNO (1935-). The work retains on the backing a label indicating that this work was exhibited in the spring of 1996 at the Carnegie Art Museum in Oxnard, California. The exhibition was named "Puertas del Santuario: Painti...

Pastel on soft old board, the subject a light green and white sensitive spring landscape, measuring 14 1/4" by 19 1/8" (19 1/2" by 24 1/2" as framed), not signed on the front that I can see but on the reverse in old hand is written "Blossom Time/F J Girardin/The Old Watering Place/To Leighton DeMen". This is a satisfying impressionistic work by a Kentucky-born artist who early in life painted in downstate Indiana, where he was a fixture in the early 20th century art colony, and who later in li...

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 or oil pastel on velvet landscape of the Philippines, the sun setting dramatically over a distant peak, a traditional thatched house at right, signed at lower left "Igning Sarmiento Manila 68". There is a known Sarmiento artist in the Philippines but I am not sure that this is by that artist. The size is 17 1/2" by 24" on the stretchers and 20" by 26" framed. The handling of the color in the sky as the sun disappears and night comes on is exquisite. Condition is excellent, no damage n...

Pastel on paper, unframed, 14 1/2" by 12 1/4", signed at lower right with the initials "DP". This is a drawing of the distinctive 10,000+ ft. mountain of the Cascades Range in Washington state, Mt. Baker. The artist was obviously skilled in the use of pastel, but I am not able to say who the artist might have been. I thought it could possibly be Dewitt Parshall, California artist, but don't know if he worked in the Northwest. So, this work, oddly, found in central Massachusetts, is offered ...

Pastel on paper, 10 1/2" by 23 1/2" and 2" inch wide very attractive and complementary oak Arts and Crafts appearance wood frame, unsigned, the subject bananas, peaches, and a basket, circa 1920. This is a typical example of the early 20th century American pastel school. Reaching back to artists who created pastels late in the 19th century, pastel artists like William Joseph Chandler, Glatthaar, and others created works for homes that would exhibit more quality than mere reproductions. Excell...