Vintage (circa 1910 or 1920---possibly earlier---) old watercolor landscape of a log bridge over a small creek in a woodland, nicely framed, signed at lower left by listed upstate New York artist ELBRIDGE J. FENN (1857-1934). Fenn seems to have executed landscapes in oil and watercolor, in the area around the old Skaneateles art colony near the Finger Lakes, west of Syracuse. There is not a lot of biographical information to be gleaned from the net, but he was obviously talented...

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...

Watercolor on paper, with skilled use of wet-on-wet technique, 19" by 27" (31" by 38" as framed), the subject quite possibly a city with figures, (but that is just a guess---only the artist knew for sure), signed at lower right "G. Benaroyo" (or "Benaroya") and dated there 1962. I believe Benaroyo or Benaroya is a Jewish surname, and I discovered upon opening this up that there is writing in Hebrew on the back of the work, the words "Benaroya landscape" and the original $150 price...

Watercolor on paper, 12 1/2" by 9 1/2" inside the mat, 18 1/2" by 14 1/2" as framed, the subject the Museum of Wooden Architecture in Suzdal, Russia. Suzdal is in the province of Vladimir, approximately 150 miles northeast of Moscow. The work is signed at lower right by the talented contemporary Russian gallery artist NIKOLAI TROSCHENKOV (1961-) and dated there 1989, and at lower left, I'm told, is the name of the town (all this related to me by Russian speakers)...

Oil on burlap type canvas, unframed, 29 1/2" by 15", signed at lower right "BEKE", date circa 1950's or early 1960's most likely. The scene is a classic Mediterranean coastline in Italy or Spain, or, just a generic Mediterranean scene conceived by the artist. I don't see a listing for this artist so am offering this as a decorative piece. It is soiled, and would brighten substantially with a professional cleaning.

Watercolor on paper painting of the famous belfry towers and facade of the St. Louis Cathedral on Jackson Square in New Orleans, Louisiana, possibly signed at lower right (illegible), 10 1/4" by 7 1/2" inside the mat, 16" by 10" framed, circa 1960's or 1970's I believe. The work is framed in an old, beveled dark oak quality frame that likely considerably pre-dates the art. When framed, someone wrote the title "St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans" on the mat below the image...

Watercolor painting of a sunny meadow by the sea, vegetation partially obscuring a distant view to a coastline, 9 1/8" by 13 1/4" (16 1/2" by 20" in wood strip frame), signed at lower right by American artist HARRIET WINSLOW HAYDEN (1840-1926)--some give date of death as 1906. Hayden worked in both Massachusetts, and, later, in Colorado, where she became an active member of Denver-area art groups...

Oil on canvas, 13 1/2" by 9 5/8" in its thin old frame, signed at lower center "Ellen B. Farr", the subject her typical signature pepper tree leaves and the distinctive red "berry" seed pods. Farr (1840-1907) is quite appreciated today for her California paintings of pepper trees, still life works of poppies, citrus, native indian baskets, and landscapes...

Watercolor on paper painting of flowers in a short vase in a dish, a piece of fruit and a small book nearby, 11" by 15" inside the mat, 19 3/4" by 24" as framed, signed at lower right by the artist and dated there 1970. I do not see a lot of biographical information on the artist, but he did apparently work in a modernistic style, as Paul Klee or Lionel Feininger inspired semi-abstract or abstract works have appeared at auction in Germany...

Oil on canvasboard, 14" by 10" (19 1/4" by 15 1/4" as framed), signed at lower right in red "K. L. Weatherly" and dated there 1940. One of two works by this same artist I acquired at the same time, (the other one also in my shop), this is an impressionistic view of a southern American regional landscape, a swamp or lake with bald cypress and Spanish moss hanging from the trees. Such a scene would normally be encountered in a place like the Louisiana bayous...

Oil on board, (ONE OF TWO BY THE ARTIST IN MY SHOP), 4" by 7 1/2" inside the mat (7 1/2" by 11 1/4" as framed) signed at lower left in green "Six" and dated there "32", the subject the iconic saguaro cactus of the southwestern American desert at sunset. Because that species of cactus grows naturally only in Arizona, we can assume that this is indeed an Arizona scene...

Old impressionist oil on canvas laid on wood board painting of a typical Dutch scene with windmills, boats, and a waterway, 9" by 11 1/4" (13 1/2" by 15 3/4" in 20th century frame). There does appear to be a signature at lower left but despite my best efforts I am unable to determine that name...

Oil on masonite still life painting, 24" by 18" (33" by 26" framed), signed at lower left by California artist CLARETTA ELLIS WHITE (c. 1915-2002). This is a briskly painted work by an artist who was quite active in the Southern California art scene at mid century...

Large oil on canvas, 52 1/2" by 37", unframed, the name "SERGEI BORISOV" on the canvas overlap, the subject a scene of Cold War era Russia. There is much going on in the image, which is an idealized urban, industrial landscape. The Russian is difficult to translate (I have been helped by a friend who reads Russian), even to a Russian speaker/reader, but the gist of what is being said is that the proletariat and workers must prevail all together to work for the Communist ideal. Also, it could ...

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...

Ink on rice type paper, approximately 13" by 11" inside the mat, the subject appearing to be a child, with a bird above, signed at lower right "Serisawa" in ballpoint, inscribed "To Gertrude & Jim from Sueo" at lower left in ballpoint. This is an example of the artistry of the American-Japanese artist SUEO SERISAWA (1910-2004). Serisawa is considered to be one of the principal figures in California modernism. Born in Yokohama, Japan, the son of an artist, he was in Long Beach, California as a b...

This is a very attractive impressionist work, 18" by 23 3/4" (24" by 29" as framed), unsigned, the subject a line of trees, fading sunlight filtering through them, all in a green and brown palette that seems very Arts and Crafts in feeling. I think the work was likely executed in the 1940's or thereabouts. The stretcher is new, and I am trying to decide if the painting has been lined on a newer canvas. The seller told me this work came from the recently broken up estate of Swiss-American arti...

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 ...

Oil on canvas, 24" by 30" (30" by 36" as framed), the subject a peaceful northeastern cove, which we learn from a penned notation on the reverse is, in fact, Canada, in the province of Nova Scotia. Viewers online have confirmed to me that this is definitely Peggy's Cove on the Atlantic coast. The oil bears a professional-looking signature at lower right: R. Miller. I don't see a listing that would likely correspond to this, so offer it on its own strong decorative qualities and excellent co...

Small oil on canvas laid on board, 9" by 7" framed, unsigned, the view being an extensive hazy landscape with high snowy peaks in the distance, a spindly tree in the middle ground. I have searched without success for a signature. Likely dates before 1940 and more than likely by a listed artist. Light areas in immediate foreground are probably old losses, which have been in turn varnished over.

A contemporary watercolor painting of banana tree or giant bird of paradise, in harmonious green, yellow, violet and brown-red colors, 22" by 19" (29 3/4" by 25 3/4" in blond wood frame), signed at lower right corner by artist Elizabeth Schleich, or Schleichner or similar, followed by "PTL" (meaning unknown). The work is in excellent condition, the colors rich. The artist displays a keen sense of color and some passages in the composition appear almost cubistic. The giant bird of paradise is ...

Oil on canvas, 27 1/4" by 39 3/4" (32 1/4" by 44 3/4" with modern simple frame), signed at lower right by the artist and penciled notations on the stretcher as well, the subject most peaceful, consisting of a small pond with ducks and rowboat in a clearing, painted early in the 20th century by the noted Scandinavian artist OTTO PETERSEN BALLE (1865-1916). Balle's works are held in many collections in Denmark, and some especially fine examples have sold at auctions, one at Sotheby's. This work ...

An opportunity to acquire an original oil on canvas painting by a very highly esteemed twentieth century California artist, the works of whom have exceeded $50,000 at auction. This work is signed at lower right by California twentieth century artist ROGER KUNTZ (1926-1975). The subject is apparently a coastline with abstracted trees and houses next to a dark blue sea. The work itself measures 12" by 16" (17 1/2" by 21 1/2" in a quality frame by Munn, a respected old La Cienega Boulevard framer)...

Oil on canvas impressionist seascape painting of green waves breaking on a beach, 12" by 24" (17 3/4" by 29 1/2" framed), signed on overlap "D. W. Parshall '95". This is a work by a Buffalo-born artist, DeWitt Parshall (1864-1956) who is today best known as a California painter from the Santa Barbara area. Parshall studied in Dresden and Paris and painted in the east before heading west to California in 1917, where he became noted for his beautiful landscape paintings (and his son Douglass als...

Oil on board painting of colorful flowers in a blue ceramic vessel on a tabletop, 20" by 26" (26 1/2" by 32 1/2" as framed), apparently unsigned, the work dating to probably the years around 1930. There is an old crack at upper right as shown, not especially visible to the casual viewer, and I note some flaking and unstable paint in the lower 1/4 of the painting (see bright yellow underpaint showing through----ask for more detailed photos of this).

Oil on canvas painting of famous Morro Rock, the 500 foot high landmark and sentinel that for time immemorial has guarded the harbor at Morro Bay on the coast of central California. The work is titled on the stretcher "August Sunset by Marjorie Sharpe". Beautifully painted, the artist has captured the wispy clouds that cling to the top of the rock and the reflections of the fishing boats. Sharpe is listed in the Dictionary of California Artists by Hughes, who mentions that she was active in Sa...

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...

A turn of the century oil of red roses, signed at lower right "Myrtle Crittenden". There is a "Miss M. Crittenden" listed in Hughes' dictionary of California artists, and she was noted there to have exhibited at the California state fair in 1881. This painting came out of the Sacramento area, so, that makes sense. Not dated but likely dates to early 20th century when such works were still especially popular, as they had since Victorian times. This oil measures 18 3/4" by 15 1/4" plus 3 1/2" o...

Oil on canvas, 8" by 10" and 1" wide frame, the subject a classic plein air landscape of the low desert. It is signed "Geraldine" at lower right, and on reverse is the inscription "To Dad Happy Anniversary from Mom". The painter was talented but no doubt still an amateur. This is a pleasant decorative painting that is ready to hang on the wall.

Watercolor on paper, 9 1/8" by 6 3/4" inside the mat (14 1/4" by 11 5/8" in its simple green frame), unsigned, the subject a Spanish (most likely) church tower with arched and arcaded breezeways. I've opened this and don't find a signature nor other information. My best guess is that this would be one of the famous buildings in the south of Spain, such as Granada, Sevilla, etc., though I suppose it possible that it could be elsewhere in the Mediterranean region. The top of the tower has a Moo...

Oil on board, 13" by 17", unsigned, the subject a group of European-looking (French, I'd guess) buildings that appear as if they would belong in a country winery scene, with an early spring impressionistic landscape surrounding them. The conical tops remind me of structures I have seen in California wine country, or, in French chateau country. This one is difficult to describe adequately. I would imagine judging from the quality that it is the work of a listed artist, but I could not venture ...

Oil on canvas laid on board landscape of whitewashed red-roofed buildings, foreground donkeys carrying loads while chickens graze nearby, 11 1/4" by 15 1/2" (15 1/2" by 20" framed), signed at lower right by 20th century Hungarian or Romanian artist JULIO BEREGSZASZY. The artist's works of Venezuela, executed in the 1950's, indicate that he spent time there or was from there despite the European name. Little else seems to be known about this talented impressionist. The painting is in excellent...

Beautifully executed by an unknown but obviously talented artist is this 10" by 8" oil on canvas of a seated woman draped in fabric, against a darker drape background. The work is contemporary. It was found unframed and for illustration purposes I have "married" it to a frame that somewhat fits it, however, the frame is marginally unsuitable because it is a bit shallow for an oil painting's stretcher. If desired this frame can be included and you can work a bit on securing this inside the fra...

Watercolor painting on paper, 29 1/2" by 21 1/2", (37 1/2" by 29 1/2" framed behind Plexi, in simple gold metal framing), signed at lower right "Julia R. Ayres" (and copyright symbol and 1985 date). The subject is the world famous Grand Canyon in Arizona. Ayres might be a listed artist, there being another Julia Ayres on google known as an artist, but further research should be conducted to see if there might be a relationship. The watercolor is nicely executed and the popular southwestern su...

Oil on canvas painting of the streets in the oft-painted Montmartre section of Paris, 18" by 24" (25" by 31" framed), signed at lower right by the noted well listed French naive artist LOUIS PEYRAT (1905-1999). This is a classic scene that reminds of Maurice Utrillo, who, I read online, was a cousin of Peyrat (one painting in the auction record featured as its subject matter Utrillo's house). The muted color palette lends an austerity and understatement to this fine work. Peyrat was from the ...

Watercolor on paper, 20 1/2" by 27 1/4" inside the mat (26 1/2" by 32 1/2" as framed), signed at lower right "Roy E. Swanson", dated there "84" This watercolor is by a skilled hand (see other works by him in my shop), though I cannot seem to find a listing for the artist. There is a listing for a RAY Swanson (Cowboy Artists of America), but this is not that artist. Regardless, the work is excellent, reminding one of the California Scene school of watercolor, with the likes of Milford Zornes, Ja...