Circa 1900 watercolor of the heart of Venice, Italy, including the familiar sights of canal and gondola, St. Mark's Basilica church and the famous clock tower on the Piazza San Marco, signed at lower left "E.K. Coomber". This work measures 12" by 6 1/4" inside the mat and 18 1/2" by 12" framed. The artist though apparently unknown was talented and a master of the watercolor medium. The artwork is clean, although the photos suggest otherwise; there is foxing and soil on the inside of the glass...

Circa 1960's watercolor painting of a snowy street in New England, a white church at left and bare elm trees framing the scene at right, signed at lower right corner by artist William Carpenter. I do not see a listing that would seem to fit but the artist obviously was talented in the watercolor medium. Condition is very clean. All images were taken through detail-dulling non-glare glass of the period. Measurements 10 1/4" by 11 1/2" (16" by 17" framed).

Pastel drawing of a path among trees at day's end, 9 1/2" by 5 3/4" (13" by 9" framed), signed at lower right by artist E. W. Rost, or possibly E. Vyrost (Vyrost is a Czech surname). The work has a Tonalist or Barbizon feeling. There is an American artist Rost but with different initials, and that artist created mostly etchings. Condition of the drawing is excellent, though the frame has considerable wear, especially at bottom and left.

Watercolor painting of flowers in a vase on a tabletop, 16" by 18 1/2" (20" by 22" framed), signed at lower left corner by noted artist GUY DE BOUTHILLIER. The artist, born in France in 1893 to a French political minister, is said to have studied with Monet, Picasso, and John Singer Sargent (see printed label on reverse, with short biography, from the old Beverly Hills-based Martin Lowitz Gallery)...

Oil on board painting of a young fair-haired woman in a pastoral landscape, caressing a dove in her hands, the subject handled in a dreamy impressionist style, signed at lower right with initials "HBK" and dated there 97. The work measures 12 3/4" by 8 3/4 including a narrow old style gold frame to which the board was mounted long ago. I am attempting to determine who "HBK" might have been. The artist was skilled and created a timeless image...

Ink on paper drawing of the narrow streets of an old town likely in eastern Massachusetts, possibly Marblehead, two women chatting casually, the work signed by the artist at lower right and monogrammed and dated in Roman numerals 1896 at left, by the noted American artist and illustrator EDMUND HENRY GARRETT (1853-1929). Garrett was born in Albany, New York at mid century, and died near Boston at the end of the 1920's...

Oil on canvas painting of a calf standing in a tawny meadow, 12" by 12" (15 1/4" by 15 1/4" in simple wood frame), signed at lower left "Hutcheson". This is a simple yet competently painted work by an artist whose identity remains unknown to me. I have searched online and feel this could be by a female Arkansas artist, but that would be just a guess. Condition is excellent.

Watercolor on paper painting of a lovely young woman in turn of the century Italy, likely Venice, 13" by 10 1/4" inside the mat, 21" by 17 1/2" in pleasing coppery gold frame, signed at lower right by artist D. G. ANGIOLINI. The artist is obviously highly skilled. Paintings by this D. G. Angiolini generally feature genre scenes of Venice, or views of Venice...

Oil or acrylic painting on canvas, 12" by 16", presently unframed, with notation on stretcher "CORTONA ITALY SEPT. 2007" and a signature that looks like "Mylius". Cortona is a town in Tuscany. The artist I believe was American. His or her style is charmingly primitive/naive. The color harmony is very pleasing, and condition is excellent...

Contemporary painting of a young woman in summery attire, teasing the viewer as she clings to her white wide-brimmed hat, 24" by 36", unframed, signed at right by contemporary American artist R. BAILEY. I do not see information on an artist by this name. The painting is reminiscent of classic 20th century pin-up illustration art. It is in excellent display condition.

Mid twentieth century oil on canvas painting of a European-looking harbor, 30" by 25" (33 1/2" by 28 1/2" framed), signed at lower right in red "M. Davies". The work, signed again on reverse and titled there "The Early Start", is painted in an impressionist hand by a talented artist who I have to date been unable to identify. The work is in very good condition; yellowed varnish could stand to be removed but you would not have to do this. There is a slight smoke smell close up...

Oil on board painting of a winter landscape, unsigned, 15" by 18" (17 1/2" by 20 1/2" framed), executed by a talented yet still naive hand, circa late 19th century. A pleasing work for the antique house or Americana and folk art collection. Notably, there is some abrasion and scratches, principally at lower left center near the fence, but also a bit in the trees at left and right and one in the sky, and varnish is yellowed.

PAIR of pastel drawings of stone buildings in Israel, each 13 1/4" by 9 1/4" (19" by 14 3/4" in simple light wood frames), each signed "N. Kobi", one dated '87, the other '89. I do not see a listing for the artist, who seems to have been skilled with pastel. Both works are clean. The frames have wear that could possibly be sanded out.

Contemporary Australian aboriginal art "dot" painting, acrylic on a thin canvas, signed on the reverse by artist POLLY PUNTJUNTA, and stamped with the Original Aboriginal Art Company stamp, of Adelaide, South Australia. The work measures 15" by 26 1/2" (23" by 34" in a wood frame with scratches). The past framer elected to place the reverse wire so as to hang this vertically, though I do not believe there is any particular reason to have done so. The work might be more logically horizontal...

A PAIR of highly realistic, detailed watercolor paintings one of pears, one of peaches, the peaches 10" by 14", (18" by 21" as framed), the pears 9 1/2" by 15 1/2", (16 3/4" by 22 1/4" framed), both in blond wood frames, behind Plexiglas, both signed in gold paint by Los Angeles area contemporary artist GRACE SWANSON. An online biography reveals that the artist displayed talent while still a youngster; she went on to degrees in art from Loyola Marymount College in Los Angeles...

Watercolor painting of a young ballerina-like ice skater on a frozen pond, 9" by 12 1/2" (17 1/4" by 20 1/4" framed), signed in red at lower left by gallery artist Craig Smith. There seems to be little internet information on the artist, though another work in my shop by him, an oil, comes with a business card showing that he exhibited at a Carmel, California gallery in the mid 1980's...

Fine engraving by Cousen, titled at bottom center "The Woodland Gate", after the original painting by English Royal Academician WILLIAM COLLINS (1788-1847), measuring 8 1/4" by 10 5/8" inside the mat with hand-drawn lines, 16" by 17 1/2" in silvery framing. This is a fine decorative print that is in extremely clean, wall-ready condition. According to information on the internet, Collins' work was prized more highly in the late 19th century than that of Constable and Turner. He was made a full...

Watercolor painting of a stand of leafless trees in late autumn, a small stream flowing through, 11" by 8" framed, apparently unsigned. I would imagine this dates to the 1920's or 1930's most likely. I did open up the backing and could find neither signature nor any other information, though I feel the work quite likely by a listed artist. I purchased the painting in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Condition is excellent. The frame has a rustic Adirondacks feeling to it, with a suggestion of sa...

Oil on canvas painting of a rocky windy coastline, likely in Ireland or Scotland I believe, signed at lower right "Peg McCarty". I do not see a listing for the artist. There is a canvas stamp on reverse, of Winsor & Newton, London, England. Measurements 14" by 18" (17 1/2" by 21 1/2" framed). Condition is excellent save for a few drips of foreign matter, brownish, along the ridgeline/horizon at left, and in sea at left center.

Etching, in a style that exhibits both the fine detail and subtle shading techniques of Rembrandt, the subject matter three human heads, one head of a goat, and one, a ram, by the French draftsman, etcher and engraver, JEAN-JACQUES DE BOISSIEU (1736-1810). The print, 6 1/4" by 8" inside the blue mat (10 1/2" by 13 1/2" framed), is signed at lower center just with initials, the "DB" conjoined, and is dated there 1803. De Boissieu was born in Lyon in eastern France and is closely associated with...

Fine old marine art drawing, in compromised condition, as found in Rhode Island, unframed, 13" by 19 1/2", signed at lower left corner "F R Smith". This is almost certainly by late 19th century American artist F. ROLLIN SMITH, who painted watercolors and oils of marine scenes. Little seems to be known of the artist but works do appear at auction. This drawing is a survivor, found in a portfolio of drawings in Providence, Rhode Island. It likely dates to the late 1870's or the 1880's; many of ...

A large watercolor painting, apparently unsigned, 20 1/2" by 28 1/2" (52 cm. by 72 cm.) and 27 1/2" by 36" framed. The antique work has been laid on a thin card, earlier in the 20th century, so if there was information on the recto it is hidden. The fascinating scene contains at least 20 figures going about their business, two horses, numerous boats, and windmills in the distance, and carefully rendered architectural facades. The artist must certainly be someone known. I sent photos to Chr...

A PAIR of contemporary oil on canvas works, one on canvas, 20" by 16" (26 1/2" by 22 1/2" framed), the larger piece on canvas board, 24" by 18" (30 1/2" by 24 1/2" framed), one signed with what appears as "Sichan" or similar. The frames are of identical silvery finish. Frames and paintings are in excellent condition. The expansive view out over a coast, and relaxed patios with their furniture, evoke pleasant thoughts and perhaps memories of vacations past. The archway through which we look o...

A work on canvas, 16" by 20", unframed/unsigned, featuring spatter drips in blue, red, yellow and a touch of green, on a white ground, in the style of famed modern American painter Sam Francis. I think the paint is likely acrylic. The work is a rather more affordable version, compared to the six or seven figure paintings by the master. A pleasing addition to your Mid Century interior, in excellent condition.

Classic saguaro type cactus in a yellow pot, set on a gray stone patio, against a bright blue background, measuring 14" by 11", unframed, apparently unsigned. The work is very whimsical and the artist has a cheery touch. A great addition to your Southwestern interior. Excellent condition. There might be a signature on the reverse but it is crossed out and hard to decipher----might read "XXXXX Barsh".

Oil on panel painting, 25 1/2" by 23 1/2" framed, the subject rather difficult to describe, but bridging abstract and realism with some surreal thrown in for good measure, by difficult to categorize American contemporary artist JERRY MCLAUGHLIN (born circa 1925), now a resident of Santa Cruz, California. McLaughlin's meandering career was described in detail in a Metro Santa Cruz article of 1998, and a New York Times article of 2001. The artist was an art director on Madison Avenue, but moved ...

Oil on canvas painting of a street scene, presumably in Israel, 16" by 11 1/4" framed, signed at lower left "Moshe M.". This does not appear to be by Moshe Mokady, the best known artist with whom that name corresponds closely. Nevertheless it is a competently handled work in excellent condition.

Small contemporary unframed painting, 10" by 8", signed at lower right "Harper", of a classic old late Victorian gingerbread house, complete with the turret rooms and wraparound porch that was so common in homes built during that period. It would have been nice had the artist identified the address, but that was not to be. The work is in excellent condition.

Likely painted for the southern tourist trade between about 1920 and 1950 or so, is this oil on a slice of palmetto wood, roughly oval shape, approximate dimensions 10" by 13", the slab 1" thick, signed at bottom left in the image "A. Donhauser". This locale could be anywhere from Texas through Georgia, given the Spanish Moss on the tree. The palmetto slab is unusual and adds interest. An unusual item. There is a small loss on the tree trunk.

Oil on canvas painting by Haitian artist J.B. Gaston, 12 1/2" by 16", unframed, the subject a colorful tropical village among palms, numerous figures going about their regular activities. This work is squarely within the classic style of art we have come to expect from Haiti. It is not an old work but continues a tradition of Haitian art going back to the 1940's. Excellent condition. Will brighten any interior.

Oil on canvas laid on board painting of a tree in late autumn, the leaves still in their golden glory, haystacks filling the meadow. This work measures 8" by 10" and is unsigned and not framed. On the reverse is written in pencil "Oct 7 - 1939". More than likely this is by a listed artist but his or her identity will remain a mystery. Put a frame around it and this will shine.

An original watercolor drawing of a familiar California theme: surfers at the beach, with lifeguard tower, palms, and two parked classic late 1940's Woodies vehicles. The work is signed at lower left "Dry......" ("Drysbock", or similar?) and measures 4 1/2" by 6 1/2". It comes matted but with no frame and glass. Likely is a contemporary work. Looks like a print but guaranteed to be original work.

Recently acquired from a Southern California German-American family liquidating a household, are twenty-one watercolor paintings by "Uncle Max" (Markus "Max" Hansen, 1898-), featuring mostly Old World landscapes and street scenes, with a few interiors in the mix. Some are framed in wood, some unframed, some have glass, some do not, some are signed, some are not. The artist was talented but is unknown outside of the family. Born in 1898, he lived in Eppertshausen between Frankfurt and Darmstad...

A PAIR of copper engravings circa 1766, by noted English entomologist and illustrator/engraver MOSES HARRIS (1731-1785), featuring a number of species of moths of the British Isles, as published in The Aurelian, or a Natural History of English Insects. These both measure 18 1/4" by 14 3/4" as identically framed (20th century simple black wood strip frames). Harris' drawings were displayed at the Royal academy in 1785. He was an illustrator of a number of natural history works, The Aurelian se...

Acquired from the recent liquidation of the extensive estate of actor Charlton Heston and his wife Lydia, this is an original photograph, unsigned/unattributed, measuring 13 1/2" by 17 3/4", unframed, in a clean white mat. There are a number of contemporary notations in pencil on the mat, including "STILL LIFE MID 1920", and a $300 asking price. The photo seems to be perhaps earlier, so "circa 1900" might be reasonable. Lydia Heston was active as a professional photographer, and the estate had...

A watercolor painting of a steep hillside with trees, several structures filling the lower portion of the composition, unsigned, 13 1/2" by 10 1/2" (24 3/4" by 20 1/2" in the dark simulated wood framing. The painting does have some age and would likely be by a listed artist. Mat got wet at some point at bottom and will need to be replaced. Art itself is in excellent condition, the colors fresh. There is a water stain on the reverse side of the paper, unrelated to the mat situation; but there...