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 ...