Oil on canvas, 25 1/2" by 18" (32 1/2 by 24 1/2" as framed), apparently unsigned, circa 1930 to 1950, and very probably European (French or perhaps Scandinavian, judging from the stretcher). The painting is something of a mystery, the mysterious hand and spectacles at lower left coming from outside the image area. Almost certainly this was created by a listed artist but without a signature I cannot go further on that front...

At first glance this might appear to be a print, but it is not: it is an amazingly crafted quite large hyper-real watercolor painting, 29" by 19 3/4" inside the mat, 37 1/2" by 26" framed, signed at lower right by the artist, JAY RATHER. From my internet research, this appears to be a work by the son of Texas artist Herb Rather (1930-), who painted in a similar style, though the online reference mentions Jay as Herb's father, not his son...

This is an original painting in gouache on paper, 23 3/4" by 23 3/4" square, in a narrow metal frame, apparently by an unlisted artist named Gertmenian. This is an Armenian name, and the painting was found in Los Angeles, where there is a large Armenian population. If you're seeking an eye-dazzler of a painting that contains strong primary colors, consider this decorative art...

Oil on canvas, 27" by 39" (32 1/2" by 44 1/2" as framed), the scene a deep blue lake with small boats and a dock, puffy clouds filling the sky on a peaceful summer day. It is an expansive scene, large enough to invite the viewer to feel he is a part of it. I suppose the work is Swedish or Danish. The artist chose to sign with just the conjoined initials "HM" at lower left, where it is also dated 1948...

A beautiful circa 1920 impressionist painting of tall pines or cedars in a sun-dappled forest landscape which includes two groups of small figures at center left. The unframed work measures 30" by 24" and is apparently unsigned. Judging from the canvas and stretcher, this is likely the work of a listed American artist. It has been suggested that it was cut down at some point, as the painting extends over the tacking edge...

An impressively large (26" by 39", and 40" by 53" in a fine high quality gilded oak style frame of the period) watercolor landscape of a fascinating primeval, mystical forest interior, signed at lower right by English Victorian period artist JOSHUA RENSHAW, who was active in the 1880's and 1890's, though little biographical information is available...

Oil on canvas titled on stretcher "Golden Silence", 28" by 21" (33" by 25" in original vintage frame), signed at lower right and again on the stretcher by California plein air artist EUGENE PIERRE FRANQUINET (1875-1940). This is a fine example of the work of this Belgian-born painter who immigrated to the United States in 1907, and who was in Southern California as early as 1911...

One of three works in my shop by the same artist, F. KENWOOD GILES of Bermuda, is this watercolor on paper painting, 14" by 19 1/2" inside the mat, 20 1/2" by 26 1/2" as framed, the subject a pink-walled, white-roofed island home on a lovely piece of property, flowering oleander shrubs and a few pines or cedars completing the happy scene. The paintings are not dated, but I believe that they would have been created in the 1950's...

Oil on canvas, 36" by 24" (45" by 33" as framed in wood), the subject a wicker chair draped with lacy cloth, a painting in the background and tea pot at right, signed with what appears as "Egeun" at lower right and dated 82. A Greek-speaker emailed me to inform me that the signed name is, in Greek, "Eleni" (Greek for "Helen"). This is a bright, contemporary painting in really excellent, fine wall-ready condition.

By the noted California artist FRANK MOSS HAMILTON (1930-1999) is this gouache on paper painting, 11 1/4" by 15 1/2" inside the frame, 19" by 23 1/2" framed, signed at lower right by the artist and titled there "December Snow". Hamilton was a highly talented master of realistic painting, sometimes in oil but perhaps more impressively in gouache or tempera or casein type media...

Icon-style painting in gouache on board, late 20th century, executed in the style of ancient religious icons, the painting 10 1/2" by 8" inside the mat, 19 3/4" by 17 1/4" in its pleasing, quality light oak frame. The painting is titled "Saint Neofytos", which literally means, according to a Greek-speaker with whom I consulted (for a lack of a better term), the "NEWLY INITIATED ONE"...

This is a fine ink and wash drawing, 9 3/4" by 13 3/4" (16 5/8" by 20 1/2" framed), titled at lower left "CAPRI" and signed there by the artist, GONSALVO CARELLI (1818-1910). The artist's name is sometimes spelled "Consalvo" or "Consalve" or "Gonsalve". The scene includes more than ten vessels ranging from little more than rowboats to masted sailing ships. The famous island of Capri looms as a backdrop, the foreground boats filled with carefully drawn figures...

Oil on canvas colorful and skillfully painted abstract landscape of the glorious Southwest, 27 1/2" by 36" as framed, signed at lower right "Helen Peeke", and bearing the title "Indian Country" and the original price "150.00" on the stretcher. I have not been able to locate information on the artist but obviously she was a skilled painter who was able to capture the feeling of the Southwest in abstracted form. Condition is excellent and this is wall-ready.

Oil on canvas painting, 24" by 36" (30" by 42" framed), late 20th century, the subject a family of elephants at an African waterhole, signed at lower right by listed artist DON ERDMAN (sometimes spelled as ERDMANN). The work is similar to works by better known artists such as David Shepherd or Bob Kuhn which bring thousands of dollars. Erdman is listed in Davenport's, but I am hard pressed to find more information on him...

For the Orientalist art collector, this is a fine little drawing in pencil and watercolor, 5 1/2" by 8 1/4", (10 1/2" by 14" in its vintage frame), the subject an apparently Middle Eastern scene of classical temples set into a hillside. It has been suggested that this could be the famous Petra, Jordan site of classical antiquity. The work, glued to a sheet with "Ackermann & Co." blindstamped into the right corner, is unsigned...

Found in Maine, is this oil on canvas painting, 24" by 20 1/2" in its silver metal frame, signed at extreme lower right "Judith Nelson Harper" and titled on the reverse "Red, White and Blue". It is a striking work, though I see minimal information on the artist---I believe just one minor bit of information shows up on a net search. Regardless, this will please anyone looking to brighten up a modern interior with original art from the 1970's. The condition is somewhat less than optimal...........

Oil on masonite panel, 13 " by 22 " (16" by 25" in black frame with gold inner), the subject a female mallard duck among brown grasses suggestive of autumn. The artist signed his name at lower left. S. SCOTT ZUCKERMAN (1951-) was born in Connecticut and lives there still, living a life close to nature and therefore an excellent observer of it. He is widely known for his paintings of wildlife, including fish, birds, and large mammals like moose. Zuckerman attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn....

Watercolor on paper of a large ship at the dock, 13 1/2" by 17 1/4" (21" by 26" framed), signed in the image at lower left and also on the mat at lower right "Herbert Manasse", and titled "ENSENADA 'L.'C.I." on the mat at lower left. The artist is HERBERT MANASSE (1891-1965), who according to the AskArt listing was an artistically talented attorney. He was obviously quite familiar with the medium. Note the wet-on-wet technique in the sky. The colors of the painting are extremely rich and not...