The watercolor scene depicts a tent housekeeping camp on the shore of a body of water, with four figures, all African-American, in the composition, making it therefore quite unusual and scarce. The date of execution might be circa 1880 I feel, given the dress and the primitive camp set-up. The work is an historical record of African-American life in the 19th century. Size is 9 5/8" by 13 1/2" inside the mat, 18 1/4" by 22" in the narrow gold framing...

Pastel on paper work, the subject a wintry tree and split rail fence in a snowy landscape, a distant house with smoke from a chimney suggestive of a snug refuge from the cold. The work is signed at lower left "E Taylor". Most likely, the date of execution is within ten years of the turn of the century. Condition is excellent. Measurements are 12" by 17 3/4" inside the mat and 21 1/2"by 26" in silvery modern framing with gold tint (some wear noted especially at bottom)...

A large watercolor painting, apparently unsigned, 20 1/2" by 28 1/2" (52 cm. by 72 cm.) and 27 1/2" by 36" framed. The antique work has been laid on a thin card, earlier in the 20th century, so if there was information on the recto it is hidden. The fascinating scene contains at least 20 figures going about their business, two horses, numerous boats, and windmills in the distance, and carefully rendered architectural facades. The artist must certainly be someone known...

A PAIR of very early works (each dated 1889, when the artist would have been in only his mid twenties), each 9 1/2" by 14" (15 1/2" by 19" framed) signed at lower right by Northern California artist JULES MERSFELDER (1865-1937). The pair features coastal scenes of boats off of a coast and several small beached boats with tiny figures. Mersfelder was born in Stockton, east of San Francisco and a gateway to the gold fields...

"Nun Admiring Lovebirds" (1875) Oil on canvas, 17" x 23.75" unframed, 24" x 30.75" framed This Florentine master artist is considered an Academic Artist. Academic Art is painting and sculpture produced under the influence of the Academies in Europe and especially France, where many artists received their formal training. It is characterized by its highly polished style, its use of mythological or historical subject matter, and its moralistic tone...

This fine old work (9" by 20", 19 1/2" by 31" framed/matted, no glass) is a coastal scene including both steam and sail vessels on the horizon, as well as a shipwreck on the rocks at right, signed lower right and dated there 1888 by the well known American 19th century painter EDMUND DARCH LEWIS (1835-1910)...

English 19th century watercolor painting of a view of a small river outside a town, two fishermen at left trying their luck in the sluggish waters, the painting signed at lower left "F. K. Seville". The work measures 12 1/2" by 16" inside the mat (21 1/2" by 23 3/4" nicely framed with hand drawn mat lines). Note the details of the skyline, with its many church steeples. The work is nicely painted, which makes it all the more surprising that there is no listing for the artist...

Watercolor on paper, unsigned, 11 1/2" by 19" inside the mat, 20 1/2" by 27 1/2" as framed, the subject a flotilla of impressive ships in a harbor, many of them flying the American flag. The artist is unknown, but was clearly a trained and skilled watercolorist. Judging from the steam vessels I would venture a guess that this would date to the late 19th century or early 20th...

Late 19th century watercolor painting of a religious road-side shrine, probably outside of Rome, an imposing church dome (probably St. Peter's Basilica) forming the backdrop to the scene. The painting is signed at lower left "Conti"; it is possible it is a work of the listed artist Tito Conti (1842-1924) but I cannot say for certain that he was the artist. The unframed piece measures 14 3/4" by 11 1/4"...

Watercolor painting of a flock of sheep in a landscape, the central figure in blue with his black sheep dog, signed at lower left in ink rather illegibly, and dated there 1900. The work measures 9 3/4" by 19" inside the mat and 17 1/2" by 26 3/4" in excellent condition modern gold frame and clean mat with inner fillet. I have tried my best to figure out the identity of the artist and cannot do so; the artist might be anything from Belgian or Dutch to German or Eastern European...

***NOTE ALL PHOTOS TAKEN THROUGH TAPED GLASS***Watercolor on paper of a young woman in a delicate lace shawl and pearls, a small floral spray on her breast, measuring 14 1/2" by 10 1/2" (26" by 21 1/2" as framed), signed at lower right with the bold signature of well listed Spanish artist FEDERICO JIMENEZ Y FERNANDEZ (1841-1931)...

Framed watercolor on paper painting of small boats on shore and in a bay, unsigned, circa late 19th century. The (likely) east coast scene measures 9" by 19 3/4" inside the mat and 14 1/2" by 25 1/2" as framed. I did open up the backing to peer inside, in search of a signature, but a signature was not found. The paper was evidently mounted on a board in the nineteenth century, as that board has the old telltale down-the-middle line where the two old wood boards would have met. The fact that ...

A fine posthumous watercolor portrait of George Brodrick (1754 - 1836), 4th Viscount of Midleton, in youth, shown reading a book. watercolor inscription in lower right: George, 4th Viscount Midleton, N. 1754 Ob. 1836. Painting is in excellent condition, though the frame shows finish loss in several places. Painting was probably executed early 20th C. Artist is unknown. Midleton was a British nobleman eventually holding the rank of baron, educated at Eton and Cambridge, and sat as a Member of ...

A finely executed watercolor landscape of a forested high rocky cliff overlooking a distant valley, signed at lower left "F Green" and dated there 1873. The work measures 16" by 12 3/4" and 23 1/2" by 20" as nicely framed, with hand drawn mat lines. I am inclined to think the artist was American but suppose he/she could have been English. There are two most-likely possibilities as to artist identity---Frank Russell Green (1856-1940) and a little-known "Francis Green". If the former the work ...

Watercolor on heavy paper, 6 1/4" by 9", (9" by 11" as framed), unsigned, the subject a marble Parthenon-like classical ruined temple at right, several picturesquely dressed figures in the right foreground, and a cypress tree at left framing the scene. I would guess the age as circa mid 19th century. Unfortunately there is no signature nor other hint as to authorship. The paper is generally somewhat browned with advanced age, and the extreme left and right 1/2" or so is severely browned---evi...

This fine old work (15 1/2" by 20", 19 1/2" by 31" framed) is a peaceful and poetic scene of a house by a lake, mountains visible beyond, the crescent moon above, signed lower right and dated there 1883 by the well known American 19th century painter EDMUND DARCH LEWIS (1835-1910). This is likely a scene from the Adirondacks or the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The artist painted from Maryland to Maine, visited Cuba and apparently Italy, and even apparently spent a short time on the Pacifi...

A watercolor view from the side including the obelisk and the twin spires of the church Trinita dei Monti (The church of the Santissima Trinità dei Monti) at the top of the Spanish Steps above the Piazza di Spagna in Rome. In the distance is a hill with an umbrella pine. Augustus John Cuthbert Hare (British, 1834-1903) is best known as a writer. He also painted watercolors as illustrations for his travel books.

This view of Rome was probably mounted in an album and later removed along with...

An impressively detailed circa 1860's watercolor of Lausanne in western Switzerland, signed at lower right by listed French artist Achille Gratien Gallier (1814-1871). The 150 year old work is in excellent condition, appearing to have been done yesterday. The scene is the Cathedral of Notre Dame (dating to as early as 1170) and nearby buildings, with tiny figures in the foreground, and even their hound dogs playing at lower left. Measurements are 10 1/4" by 9 1/4" and 17 1/4" by 16" in a mode...