Probably Italy 19th century A trio of flute, violin & harp performing in a pastoral setting , surrounded by admiring groupies. Unframed.

Probably Italy 19th century A trio of flute, violin & harp performing in a pastoral setting , surrounded by admiring groupies. Unframed.   « Less

USA 1931 This charming Orientalist interior, with sunlight streaming onto rich fabrics and brightly-glazed pots, was created in 1931 by Earl Sudderth. The only information  More »

USA 1931 This charming Orientalist interior, with sunlight streaming onto rich fabrics and brightly-glazed pots, was created in 1931 by Earl Sudderth. The only information we have been able to find about Mr. Sudderth was an obscure reference in a book titled,"Broncho Billy and the Essanay Film Company" by David Kiehn. In a section on the silent film actress Margeurite Clayton (who -- as I'm sure you all know -- starred in the 1925 silent horror film "Wolf Blood"), Earl Sudderth is referred to as a scenic painter for the movies. How's THAT for obscure!   « Less

England 19th century The portrait of this charming lady -- whose enigmatic face might conjure up the image of a British Mona Lisa -- has no signature, only the inscription  More »

England 19th century The portrait of this charming lady -- whose enigmatic face might conjure up the image of a British Mona Lisa -- has no signature, only the inscription written on the backing paper. Based on that, our best guess is that the piece originally came from the gallery of M. Edwin Schillay in London. Mr. Schillay's son, Richard, operates Schillay Fine Art in New York, and the gallery's home page states that "For decades after World War II, M. Edwin Schillay was the foremost dealer of 19th Century British art. He spearheaded the introduction to America of Victorian paintings on a large scale - long before Victorian art gained today's aesthetic appreciation. " We may be wrong, but we're making that connection.   « Less

USA 1960s With its thickly applied pigment and scraps of printed paper, this dramatic work by Lydia Modi Vitale (American, 1917-2010) has the feel of a bullfighting poster  More »

USA 1960s With its thickly applied pigment and scraps of printed paper, this dramatic work by Lydia Modi Vitale (American, 1917-2010) has the feel of a bullfighting poster applied to a rough stucco wall. Vitale was already a well-known painter before turning her love of the fine arts to museum administration. She was the first Director of both the Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara, CA, and the DeSaisset Museum of Art at the University of Santa Clara. Among her many achievements, she obtained a grant to produce a multi-media retrospective entitled "New Deal Art," which helped to document and restore many of the murals painted under the WPA program, including those in Coit Tower in San Francisco (from sfgate.com). The measurements given below are for the framed piece; the image size is 36"h. x 24"w.   « Less

USA 1962 This beautiful gilt-framed pen & ink rendering of a rural produce market is reminiscent of the regionalist work of Thomas Hart Benton -- not surprising, as Mr.  More »

USA 1962 This beautiful gilt-framed pen & ink rendering of a rural produce market is reminiscent of the regionalist work of Thomas Hart Benton -- not surprising, as Mr. Graham (American, 1919-2003), studied with Mr. Benton from 1937-1941. The measurements given below are for the framed piece; the image size is 15 3/4"h. x 23 1/2"w   « Less

USA Probably 1940s This work in sepia-toned ink and graphite on paper depicts a winning horse at the finish line of the Derby at Churchill Downs. My assumption of the 1940s  More »

USA Probably 1940s This work in sepia-toned ink and graphite on paper depicts a winning horse at the finish line of the Derby at Churchill Downs. My assumption of the 1940s date is based on what appears to be a great many military uniforms and caps. Signed "C. Ellis", lower right, matted and unframed. The measurements below are the image size, not including the mat.   « Less

USA 1963 This amusing acrylic on canvas depicts a band of mounted Norsemen -- no doubt on their way to pillage and plunder, but they look as if they're having fun. Signed  More »

USA 1963 This amusing acrylic on canvas depicts a band of mounted Norsemen -- no doubt on their way to pillage and plunder, but they look as if they're having fun. Signed and dated, lower left (see detail shot). Originally purchased from Maxwell Galleries in San Francisco. The measurements below refer to the framed piece; the image size is 22"h. x 36"w.   « Less

Probably late 1950s Acrylic on canvas South American marketplace scene. Picasso-esque vendors offering wares for sale. Image size is 27 1/2 "h. x 37" w.

Probably late 1950s Acrylic on canvas South American marketplace scene. Picasso-esque vendors offering wares for sale. Image size is 27 1/2 "h. x 37" w.   « Less

1959 "The roar of the greasepaint, the smell of the crowd". Beautiful, vibrantly-colored circus scene dating to 1959. Jeanne Maurice Landsiedel shows us the full experience:  More »

1959 "The roar of the greasepaint, the smell of the crowd". Beautiful, vibrantly-colored circus scene dating to 1959. Jeanne Maurice Landsiedel shows us the full experience: the beautiful blonde rider with her white pony, clowns, draped elephants, all under the bigtop. Image size is 27 1/2"h. x 25 1/2"w.   « Less

Probably USA or France Unknown Virtually nothing is known about either the artist, Gene Gibson, or the period in which he painted. This apparently well-to-do family,  More »

Probably USA or France Unknown Virtually nothing is known about either the artist, Gene Gibson, or the period in which he painted. This apparently well-to-do family, however, seems to be firmly planted at the dawn of the last century - Father with smoking pipe and walking stick, Mother with fur muff and feathered headpiece, and son with cap and short pants. The technique used is very interesting - almost like that of cloisonne'. As you can see in the detail shots, the dark outline of every color is fashioned from heavy wire, of almost the gauge of coat hangers. The figures are reminiscent of the style of Edward Gorey.   « Less