PAIR of gouache paintings of Italy, one apparently showing the island of Ischia in moonlight, at the entrance to the Gulf of Naples, the other a coastal scene of the mainland, neither signed, circa 1900. The Ischia work measures 6 1/2" by 9 3/4", the other 7" by 10 3/4" (12" by 14 3/4" and 12 1/2" by 16" framed----the frames slightly different). Such paintings were popular souvenirs that went home with Grand Tour visitors at the turn of the century...

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...

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. The present work seems to pre-date that by a number of years----perhaps circa 1950's or 1960's. The artist p...

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...