Impressionist Landscape Drawings and Watercolors

John Singer Sargent Study off Newport, Rhode Island, 1876 Signed in pencil "JS265A" lower left Pencil on paper 5 x 10 inches Provenance: Estate of the artist Grand Central Art Galleries, New York, 1959 Mr. William H. Bender Jr Sotheby's New York, September 19, 1987 Private Collection 1987-2000 Mark Borghi Fine Art Inc., circa 2002 Private Collection (acquired from the above), New York Recognized as the leading portraitist in England and the United States at the turn of the century, John Singer Sargent was acclaimed for his elegant and very stylish depictions of high society. Known for his technical precocity, he shunned traditional academic precepts in favor of a modern approach towards technique, color and form, thereby making his own special contribution to the history of grand manner portraiture. A true cosmopolite, he was also a painter of plein air landscapes and genre scenes, drawing his subjects from such diverse locales as England, France, Italy and Switzerland. In so doing, Sargent also played a vital role in the history of British and American Impressionism. Sargent was born in Florence in 1856. He was the first child of Dr. Fitzwilliam Sargent, a surgeon from an old New England family, and Mary Newbold Singer, the daughter of a Philadelphia merchant. His parents were among the many prosperous Americans who adopted an expatriate lifestyle during the later nineteenth century. Indeed, Sargent's family traveled constantly throughout the Continent and in England, a mode of living that enriched Sargent both culturally and socially. He ultimately became fluent in French, Italian and German, in addition to English. Having developed an interest in drawing as a boy, Sargent received his earliest formal instruction in Rome in 1869, where he was taught by the German-American landscape painter Carl Welsch. Following this, he attended the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence during 1873-74. In the spring of 1874, Sargent's family moved to Paris, enabling him to continue his training there. He soon entered the studio of Charles-Emile-Auguste Carolus-Duran. In contrast to most French academic painters, Carolus-Duran taught his students to paint directly on the canvas, capturing the essence of his subject through relaxed brushwork, a tonal palette and strong chiaroscuro. Although Sargent also spent four years studying drawing under Léon Bonnat at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, it was Carolus-Duran's approach that would form the aesthetic basis of his style. Upon his teacher's advice, Sargent also traveled to Spain and Holland to study the work of old master painters such as Diego Velázquez and Frans Hals, both of whom also employed deft, fluid techniques. In 1876, Sargent made his first visit to the United States, claiming his American citizenship and visiting the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. One year later, he spent the summer in Cancale, in France's Brittany region, where he painted outdoors, applying Carolus-Duran's strategies to portrayals of fishing folk on sunlit beaches. His reputation in Paris was established in 1878 when his Oyster Gatherers of Cancale (1878; Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.) won an Honorable Mention at that year's Salon. During the early 1880s, Sargent began making painting trips abroad, working in Venice in 1880 and 1882, where he painted street scenes and interiors notable for their brilliant play of light and shadow. He also embarked on what would be a lucrative career as a portraitist, producing such well known works as The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit (1882; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston). His early commissions also included an image of Madame Pierre Gautreau. A renowned beauty and member of Parisian society, Madame Gautreau was known for her bold, unorthodox approach towards fashion. In her portrait, entitled "Madame X" (1884; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York), Sargent effectively captured her distinctive aura. However, his daring realism, coupled with fact that he portrayed a diamond shoulder strap falling off one of her shoulders, caused such an uproar that his career in France was seriously compromised. As a result of the controversy surrounding "Madame X,"Sargent left Paris in 1886, settling permanently in London. He subsequently flourished in the English capital, becoming the leading portrait painter to the upper classes. Those who shared Sargent's sense of refinement and sophistication, as well as his international viewpoint, were especially drawn to his fashionable French style. In addition to patronage from such prominent British families as the Wertheimers and the Marlboroughs, Sargent received an equal number of American commissions, many of them secured by artists and architects he had met during his student days in Paris, among them painters J. Carroll Beckwith and Julian Alden Weir and architect Stanford White. On a painting tour to America during 1887-1888, he portrayed members of notable families from Boston and New York, including Mrs. Jacob Wendell and Elizabeth Allen...

Stoic watercolor painting of a tall windmill in a rural landscape by H. Kendall . Signed "H. Kendall" lower right. Presented in a yellow mat and wood f...

Beautiful mid century landscape of a historic California mission, highlighting its iconic architectural details such as a columned arches, white was...

Charming vintage watercolor of a turquoise blue pond along a country path. Signed by the artist, lower center; "Paule East." Presented in a vintage oak wood...

Serene 1920's watercolor landscape of calm water snaking through a lush marshy wetland, dotted with small birds, wildflowers and swaying grass, by an unknown artist (American, 20th C...

Early 20th Century Japanese Landscape Watercolor with Torii Gate Beautiful early 20th century Japanese landscape watercolor featuring a torii gate by Shumi...

The location of this early oil pastel drawing was identified by other pieces from the same drawing book. The oil pastel was a new invention - just on the market in 1921 and it appea...

A Nestor Fruge watercolor of a French Quarter scene. Born in Bayou Lafourche, Louisiana in 1916, Nestor Hippoyle Fruge spent parts of his painting career ...

Small-scale yet bold multi-colored abstracted figurative landscape of a horse rider in a canyon (a study after Edgar Payne’s works) by Tiffanie Mang (Ameri...

Silver Plume, Colorado - near Georgetown, mountain landscape with fall colors, Aspen and Pine trees, river, houses and mountains by early 20th century Co...

Small landscape with cows by Carmel artist Cetin (20th Century). Two cows are grazing in the foreground. Beyond the cows, a field stretches out towards a...

landscape, fishing, England, 1910,pastel,green,blue Edouard CHAPPEL (Anversa, 1859 – Cagnes-sur-Mer, 1946) MUSEI BELGIO Anversa Musée Royal des Beaux-Arts FRANCIA Paris Musée d...

Edward Dufner (1872 - 1957) Monhegan Island, Maine Watercolor on paper Sight 16 x 20 inches Signed lower right With a long-time career as an art teacher and painter of both 'light' and 'dark', Edward Dufner was one of the first students of the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy to earn an Albright Scholarship to study painting in New York. In Buffalo, he had exchanged odd job work for drawing lessons from architect Charles Sumner. He also earned money as an illustrator of a German-language newspaper, and in 1890 took lessons from George Bridgman at the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy. In 1893, using his scholarship, Dufner moved to Manhattan and enrolled at the Art Students League where he studied with Henry Siddons Mowbray, figure painter and muralist. He also did illustration work for Life, Harper's and Scribner's magazines. Five years later, in 1898, Dufner went to Paris where he studied at the Academy Julian with Jean-Paul Laurens and privately with James McNeill Whistler. Verification of this relationship, which has been debated by art scholars, comes from researcher Nancy Turk who located at the Smithsonian Institution two 1927 interviews given by Dufner. Turk wrote that Dufner "talks in detail about Whistler, about how he prepared his canvasas and about numerous pieces he painted. . . A great read, the interview puts to bed" the ongoing confusion about whether or not he studied with Whistler. During his time in France, Dufner summered in the south at Le Pouleu with artists Richard Emil Miller...

JOSEPH PENNELL (1857 - 1926) ACAPULCO 1901-08. Colored pastel and gouache drawing on blue paper. Signed and titled in pencil in his early signature. Image 10 x 14 inches to just ab...

1930's watercolor figurative landscape depicting the First Church of Christ Congregational in Milford, Connecticut by J. Nolan of Providence, Rhode Island (American, 20th Century). S...

Bold landscape line drawing with big clouds over a desert landscape by listed Maine artist Laurence Sisson (American, 1928-2015). This piece is unsigned, but was acquired from David Sisson, the artist's son (intialed D.S.) Presented in a new black mat with foam-core backing. Image size: 6.5"H x 12.5"W. Laurence Sisson, was a student of Herbert Barnett (1910-1972), he was one of America's preeminent realist painters today. His work may be found in the permanent collections of museums nationwide including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Portland Museum of Art, Maine. Laurence Sisson painted landscapes for sixty years. He was known for his paintings of the Maine coast...

Wonderfully detailed early 20th century figurative landscape watercolor of sailboats docked on a bustling shore, surrounded by other boats, birds and men at work with carts, by Hudson Valley New York artist Frederick Leo Hunter (American, 1858-1943). The tall boats tower over two small figures, who wade into the water beside the vessels. In the background, a lighthouse and the hint of a skyline can be seen on the distant shore. Signed "F. Leo Hunter" lower right. Displayed in a gold mat and slender giltwood frame carved with a beautiful floral motif. Image size: 7.5"H x 12"W. Known for street scene paintings and etchings of New York...

Original signed watercolor painting of a ranch in the Colorado mountains in springtime or summer coloring of green, blue, yellow, white and brown by Denver artist, Irene Fowler. Presented in a custom frame with all archival materials, outer dimensions measure 17 ½ x 23 ½ x 1 ½ inches. Image size is 12 x 18 inches. About the Artist: An important figure in the development of Denver as an artistic city, Irene Fowler was a public school teacher and founding member of the Denver Artist’s Guild (now the Colorado Artist’s Guild) in addition to being a prolific artist. She exhibited in Denver at the Schlier Gallery (where she had a solo exhibition), at the Chappell House, the University Club, and the Broadmoor Art Gallery in Colorado Springs. In 1950-1952 she served as president of the Denver Artist’s Guild. Fowler painted in oil or watercolor and her paintings were almost exclusively done en plein air. Her landscapes of Colorado...

Golden fields, a turn of the 19th century watercolor landscape by John Varley (British, 1778-1842), c.1800. Indistinct signature lower center left. Artwork has been professionally restored. Presented in archival matting. Unframed. Image size, 5"H x 7.13"W. With a letter from Jacob (Jack) Isaacs (1896-1973) on verso notating a John Varley watercolor circa 1800. Jacob Isaacs was born in 1896. He was educated at the Grocers' Company's School, Hackney Downs. He began his career in the civil service from 1912-1916. During the First World War he was involved in active service in France and held the rank of lieutenant (Territorial Army) as part of the Royal Garrison Artillery from 1916-1918. In 1919 Isaacs began his academic career by studying at Exeter College, Oxford, where he achieved a 1st Class Honours degree in English. From 1921-1924 he was an assistant lecturer in English at the University College of North Wales, Bangor and was later an assistant lecturer in English at King's College, University of London, 1924-1928. He progressed up to the position of lecturer in English from 1928-1942 and the moved to a position in Palestine as first Montefiore Professor of English in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem from 1942-1945. Isaacs returned to England in 1945 and was Chair of English Language and Literature at Queen Mary College, University of London from 1952-1964. In 1964 Isaacs retired from his position as Chair of English Language and was appointed Professor Emeritus. John Varley (17 August 1778 - 17 November 1842) was an English watercolour painter and astrologer, and a close friend of William Blake. They collaborated in 1819-1820 on the book Visionary Heads, illustrated by Blake and written by Varley, who was the elder brother of Cornelius Varley. John Varley was born at the Old Blue Post Tavern, Hackney, on 17 August 1778. His father, Richard Varley, born at Epworth in Lincolnshire, had settled in London after the death of his first wife in Yorkshire. For a brief time John Varley was employed by a portrait painter in Holborn and then, at the age of 15 or 16, he became a pupil of Joseph Charles Barrow (fl. 1789-1802), who had an evening drawing school twice a week at 12 Furnival's Inn Court, Holborn. It was Barrow who took Varley on a sketching tour to Peterborough from which he emerged as a professional painter. In 1798 he exhibited a highly regarded sketch of Peterborough Cathedral...

James Abbott McNeill Whistler Beach Scene at Dieppe, 1885-86 Watercolor on paper, mounted on board 8 1/2 x 5 inches Signed on the reverse Provenance: Miss Annie Burr Jennings Mrs. ...

Colors of tropical waters create a light and breezy mood in this figurative landscape watercolor by David Stephens (American, 20th century). Signed lower left, "D. Stephens." Present...

Early 20th century Italian figurative landscape of a traditional wheat field harvest scene, by S. Frosini (Italian, 20th Century). This figurative landscape in gouache depicts in gre...

JOSEPH PENNELL (1857 - 1926) STREET ACAPULCO 1901-08. Color pastel and gouache drawing on blue paper. Signed and titled in pencil in his early signature. Image, 10 x 14 inches to j...

Ships at the Harbor - Nautical Seascape in Charcoal on Paper Detailed and layered harbor scene by Maude Folmar Ramsey (American, 1908-1993). The viewer is looking out at the harbor, across the water from the docks, buildings, and ships. The pillars, buildings, and masts are jumbled together in a pleasing manner that is almost abstract. Despite the simplified shapes, this piece is full of detail. This piece is executed in a rectilinear style frequently seen in American mid-century modern compositions. Signed in the lower right corner "Maude Folmar" Presented in a wood frame with a double mat. Frame size: 25.25"H x 29.25"W Image size: 17"H x 21.5"W Maude Love (Folmar) Ramsey (American, 1908-1993) studied at the School of Fine Arts at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. She was the director of the Laguna Gloria Art Museum from 1968-1972. Ramsey was one of the charter members of the “Waterloo...

Beautiful watercolor landscape in a palette of deep greens and blues, of a boat pulled up on a lake shore with layered tree lines in the background Signed "E. P. Blackburn" lower ri...

Hayley Lever, 'After the Storm' (gallery title), also 'Sunny Afternoon', watercolor on watercolor paper, the full sheet, the image extending to the sheet edges; in very good conditio...

Eliseo Meifren Roig (1859-1940) - Barcelona - Pencil drawing Drawing measurements 9x12 cm. Frame measurements 22x25 cm.

Drypoint etching rawing of a coastal scene with figures drawing a net or boat form the sea by Sir Francis (Frank) Job Short (British, 1857 - 1945) Sir Frank Short, Royal Academy*, was a printmaker and teacher of printmaking. He revived the practices of mezzotint* and aquatint* engraving, and also wrote about printmaking to educate a wider public. Signed "Frank Short" lower right with monogram in the print "S within a shield" Titled lower left "Rough Weather at Blatchington" Lower left "Trial Proof" Image, 8.5"H x 10.88"W Mat, 16"H x 20"W x 0.13 Professionally cleaned and ph nuetral washed by our paper conservator. (new images posting) Francis Job Short was born on 19 June 1857 in Britain, at Stourbridge, Worcestershire. He was educated to be a civil engineer. He was engaged on various works in the Midlands until 1881, when he came to London as assistant to Mr Baldwin Latham in connection with the Parliamentary Inquiry into the pollution of the river Thames. In 1883 he was elected an associate member of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Having worked at the Stourbridge School of Art in his early years he joined the South Kensington School of Art*, in 1883. He also worked at the life class under Professor Fred...

KARL YENS (1868 – 1945) (FLOWERS) 1919 Color monotype signed, dated and annotated: “monotype 1919.” 17 ½” x 11 ½” Monotypes are unique works of art that fall between printmaking a...

"Mountain Climbers" - Mountain Landscape in Watercolor on Paper Serene mountain landscape by Margie Westcott (American, 1931-2018). The viewer stands...

Late 19th century watercolor of the Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, in Carmel CA, by George H. Brodhead (American, b. 1860). Signed "G.H. Brodhead" ...

Coastal Trees Landscape in Watercolor on Paper A vibrant watercolor landscape of towering coniferous trees against a bright blue and cloudy sky, by California artist, Lucile Marie Johnston (1907-1994, American). Signature in bottom right corner. Presented in a new soft grey mat with foam core backing. Paper size: 16.5"H x 21.5"W Mat size: 20"H x 26"W Born in Santa Rosa, California on May 26, 1907, Lucile Johnston settled in Glendale 1930-1939, later moving to Carmel and then Pacific Grove in Monterey County, California where she remained. she managed Marsh's Oriental Antiques Shop...

Idyllic farmhouse landscape by California artist Edwin Haas (American, 1927-2010). A barn with a boarded window is the primary focus of this piece. It is seated in a lush landscape, full of grass, with a small stream running through the center. To the right of the barn is a bare oak tree, and steps can be seen leading to another building. A Sacramento artist...

Hawaiian Tropical Beach and Mountains - Watercolor on Paper 1960 Idyllic watercolor of a tropical beach by unknown artist "Molale" (20th Century). The v...

Beautiful vintage watercolor of a coastal landscape with two figures walking along the beach by Les (Leslie Luverne) Anderson (American, 1928-2009). From the estate of Les Anderson i...

Significant 1940s work titled "Toiler's House" by George Demont Otis (American, 1879-1962). Titled "Toiler's House on the bottom left and signed "George Demont Otis" on the bottom right. Presented in a black wood frame. Image size, 12"H x 18"W. Otis was born in Memphis, Tennessee where he was orphaned at age six and was raised by his grandmother in Chicago...

"Rue St. Marguerite" Montreal Street Scene in Watercolor, Pastel, and India Ink Vibrant drawing of Montreal, Canada, by Richard D. Wilson (Canadian, 1920-1994). A street scene of 1960s Montreal, complete with cars, people walking and crisscrossing telephone and power lines...

Vintage original modernist watercolor painting of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range in Colorado by Alfred Wands (1904-1998). A farm in th...

Schooners at Sail, Early 20th Century Maritime Watercolor Seascape Small-scale early 20th century watercolor seascape depicting schooners at sai...

Veteran Cypress at Carmel California by Hugh Moran 1936 Pastel painting of the Veteran Cypress at Carmel, California 1936 by Portrait and landscape artist Hugh Moran (American 19th-20th C.) A Califronia artist whom in 1949 was commissioned to paint Herbert Hoovers...

Gorgeous mid century watercolor seascape of Near Point, at Mansion Overlook, Carmel, California by Margaret Wherry Ziegler (American, 1909-1989), c.1960. Signed "M.W. Ziegler" lower right. Presented in rustic black frame. Image size, 12"H x 22"L. Margaret Zeigler studied art at the Cincinnati Art Academy, Minneapolis Art...

Hailey Lever 'East Gloucester, Massachusetts', watercolor, c. 1930. Signed 'HL' in pencil, lower left. A fine, spontaneous watercolor, with fresh, undiminished colors, on off-white w...

Methodist Church in Bodie California - Watercolor on Paper Delightful watercolor by California artist Rachel Bentley (American, 1894-1991). The scene d...

Serene seascape of sailboats in the harbor by Pacific Northwest Artist Ramona Hammerly (American, 20th Century). Presented in a giltwood fram...

Rowboat Outing - Fall Landscape with Rowboats in Watercolor on Paper Serene lakeside landscape by an unknown artist (20th Century). Two birch trees with bright yellow leaves are gro...

Beautiful mid-century watercolor landscape of trees and plants in a wetland habitat, done in a cool color palette with yellow accents, by Anthony Shemroske (American, 1921-2004). The...

Beautiful turn of the century figurative landscape by F.S. Mediary (American, Late 19th Century/Early 20th Century). Presented in a giltwood frame. Signed "F.S. Mediary" lower right....

Beautiful late 19th-century watercolor landscape in the style of Elmer Wachtel (American, 1864-1929), by an unknown 19th-century artist. This small watercolor...

Wonderful rustic landscape of a farmhouse by Los Angeles artist Barbara Bisno (American, b-1925) with rolling hills and sheets on the line, 1948. Signed and dated "Bisno" right edge....

Theatre Du Chatelet A stunning gouache by one of France's premier artists specialising in Parisian scenes. Eugene Galien LALOUE (1854 - 1941) Eugène Galien Laloue was particularly...

Desert Sunflowers & Petroglyphs - Line Drawing Landscape in Ink on Paper Bold landscape line drawing by listed Maine artist Laurence Sisson (American, 1928-2015). Desert sunflowers ...

Gloucester Harbor Docking the Boat 1900 Gloucester Harbor circa 1900 by C. Bailey Cora was a San Francisco artist in the 19th century. (American), 19th-20th C). Image, 9.75"H x 14.5"...

Small landscape with large trees by M. J. (Charles) Karnoff (Russian-American). Several large trees occupy the left side of the frame, lining a simple fence. There are some rolling hills in the background, with smaller trees on the horizon. Initialed "M.J.K." in lower right corner. Presented in a new off-white mat...

Artist: Georges d’Espagnat, Attributed to, French (1870 - 1950) Title: Boats on the Shore Year: circa 1910 Medium: Watercolor on Paper, signed Size: 4.5 x 7 in. (11.43 x 17.78 cm) Fr...

19th Century Watercolour Drawing of Autumnal Trees in Northern Ireland Forest, by 19th Century Artist, William Hume Art measures 11 x 8 inches Frame measures 17 x 13 inches Pres...

Serene landscape by J. B. Schock. Several trees line the banks of a river, bursting with fall colors. Across the river on the far bank, the roof and chimneys of a house can be seen beyond the trees. California painter...

Alexander Frenz (1861 Rheydt - 1941 Düsseldorf). Plant impression in Locarno. Gouache and watercolour. 35 x 23,5 cm (visible size), 49,5 x 38,5 cm (fra...

Schooners on the Coast with Rocks Tide Pools and bird by Howard Garfield Gray Schooners in the mist by artist and illustrator Howard Garfield Gray (American, 19th-20th C). Watercolor...