Circa first third of the 20th century, or maybe earlier, very colorful watercolor on paper of a busy street scene in Napoli (Naples, southern Italy), 22 1/2" by 12 1/2" framed, signed at lower left by artist G. CANO. I count at least 10 figures in the composition, and one burro, complementing the hanging laundry, flowers, and ancient facades. This was likely a piece made for the tourist trade, by a talented artist. The colors are very intense and the condition excellent...

A large (19" by 23") watercolor painting of striking desert formations of the Southwest, with distinct modernist overtones, signed at lower right by listed artist MYRTLE MAE HOFFMAN CAMPBELL (1886-1978). The work depicts a dramatic landscape, perhaps in Utah, or Arizona, the geologic formations seemingly mimicking organic forms and Moderne and Art Deco shapes. The signs of man are scant; some shacks and a stack at upper left...

Miniature size watercolor painting of two old structures along a fence line in the fall, 5" by 5 1/2" as framed, signed at lower right "Davis F. Schwartz". The watercolor probably dates to the 1930's or 1940's. Schwartz (1879-1969) has a sizable listing in Hughes' "Artists in California 1786-1940". According to Hughes, the artist was born in Kentucky, and went on to study in the Midwest at Art Institute of Chicago and at schools in Ohio...

Pencil and watercolor drawing of a young dark-haired woman, seen in profile from the shoulders up, 6 1/4" by 7 1/2" inside the mat, 12 1/4" by 13 1/2" in modern framing, signed rather illegibly in pencil at lower left. The signature could be "Gillian Evans" or similar, though this is a guess. There is an English artist by that name who is known for her portraits of people and animals, though I cannot tie this drawing to her...

Highly impressionistic watercolor painting of a small boat in a foggy harbor, 14" by 20", unframed, signed at lower left by the listed American artist JOSEPH MARGULIES (1896-1984). Margulies was born in Vienna and by the 1920's was studying art in New York at the Art Students League, one of his instructors being Joseph Pennell. He also received training at the National Academy, Cooper Union, and in Europe...

Watercolor on paper painting of green hills in the spring or winter, their tops entering low cloud, 15" by 21" (24" by 30" in circa 1950's or 1960's frame), signed at lower left by listed California artist STANFORD STEVENS (1897-1974). This is a very competently executed painting of what I imagine is a California landscape turning green after winter and spring rains...

A watercolor painting of a small motor boat and the surrounding dock area complete with lobster traps, signed at lower right by artist WILLIAM J. GILLETT, where it is also dated 1950. The work on heavy watercolor paper measures 12 1/2" by 17 1/4" and is currently housed in an old frame and mat that should all be discarded (that measuring 21" by 25")...

A watercolor of a Benedictine Monk in prayer, French. Measuring 14x10” and framed in a 20x14” frame. The work done circa 1940

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...

Watercolor on paper painting 9 1/2" by 12 3/4" (14 1/2" by 18 1/2" framed), unsigned, executed on old watermarked paper. The scene is a landscape, perhaps an arid landscape of the west, but it's hard to tell for sure. Certainly it has some age, as the paper is toned (see edge indicating old mat presence in the past) and the reverse is even more browned, with sort of reverse images of the paint...

Gouache on paper landscape drawing, 14" by 21" (27" by 33 1/2" framed), signed somewhat illegibly in the lower right corner in pencil and dated there "43", the subject a small village on the shore of a lake or ocean. The scene, including small white church steeple, reminds me vaguely of the quaint coastal tourist town of Mendocino north of San Francisco. There is no hint as to where the subject is, so, we will just have to guess. The signature might be "Pien" or "Pian" or similar...

This is a most attractive watercolor on paper painting of a landscape with feathery trees bordering a foreground area, and a wider view beyond, 11 1/2 by 14 1/2" in modern inexpensive protective-only framing, unsigned. Found in New England, it reminds of California eucalyptus school work. The artist would likely be someone listed...

Watercolor on paper of gazelle running in an exotic subtropical landscape, 17 1/2" by 13 1/2" inside the mat (27" by 22" framed), unsigned, but obviously by an artist of talent. The work shows a striking visual energy, the animals frozen in mid-step. This could be a scene painted in Africa, or, it could be from the imagination of the artist. The painting probably dates to the 1930's or 1940's or thereabouts; there is an Art Deco feeling. It is in good condition, though the mat and frame are ...

A rare opportunity to acquire a fine original drawing (13 1/4" by 10 3/8", and 20 1/2" by 16 1/2" in quality mid-century framing) by the world-famous American writer and painter HENRY VALENTINE MILLER (1891-1980). This work is very faintly signed, (and possibly also inscribed, just above the signature) at lower right and is dated there 1946, making it a rather earlier work. (Actually seems to read "8/46" or "18/46". From what I have read, this would not necessarily mean the eighth month of 19...

Finely rendered watercolor painting of a scene of North Africa, likely Tunisia, Algeria or Morocco, signed at lower right in red by listed American artist WILFRID "Wally" BERG (1908-2002). A boy in the foreground in local clothing watches over a herd of grazing sheep, as sun-washed old buildings and mosque fill the background. The work measures 17" by 22" (25 1/2" by 29 1/4" framed). Berg was born in Michigan into a large family. He showed early promise as an artist, while roving the countr...

Watercolor on paper drawing of a homey mid 19th century interior in America or England, measuring 9 1/8" by 11 5/8" as simply framed, the work signed "Sketch/Walter Richards" at lower right in white. This was probably preliminary art for a more finished drawing or painting by this well known freelance illustrator. The drawing contains a lot of detail for its modest size: five figures are about to eat soup from a cauldron at midday. A clock shows the time; a cat snoozes at the base of the chai...

Watercolor painting titled on the mat in ink "Rockport Bay", the subject small craft in a sheltered small harbor framed by distant hills. The artist signed the drawing at lower left "Norma Page Aug. '45" and again signed, this time on the mat, at lower right. There is another word after "Page" that appears as "Douyes" or "Damyes" or similar, but I am unable to locate a listed artist by any of these names. A pleasant work showing the art colony's peaceful harbor as it looked at the end of Worl...

Watercolor on paper, 15" by 22", signed at lower right in pencil "Denny Winters" and dated 1943, showing a shoreline with exposed rocks at low tide, perhaps on an estuary. The artist DENNY WINTERS (1905-1985) was born in Michigan and died in Maine, but spent time in the Midwest and California in her lifetime. She worked at Woodstock in a WPA style, but later works became abstract, and her full oeuvre includes printmaking. She had many exhibitions at major institutions like the Carnegie, Gugge...