Category: American

Dramatic looking landscapes by American artist Louisa Davis Minot. Living from 1788 to 1858, she was part of the Hudson River School.

“White Mountains.” 19th c. American. Oil on canvas. Unsigned, titled and attributed on a handwritten gummed label affixed to the stretcher, with a temporary loan label from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, also on the stretcher. Attributed to Louisa Davis Minot. Image © 1999 – 2020 SKINNER, INC, Fair use license. via https://live.skinnerinc.com/lots/view/4-3KUQ3Y/attributed-to-louisa-davis-minot-american-1788-1858
Niagara Falls. 19th c. American. Oil on canvas. Louisa Davis Minot, painter. In the public domain due to age. via https://fineartamerica.com/featured/niagara-falls-louisa-davis-minot.html.
“Niagara Falls.” 1818. American. Oil on linen. Louisa Davis Minot, artist. Collections of the New York Historical Society. Image © The New-York Historical Society. Fair use license. via https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Niagara-Falls-1818-by-Louisa-Davis-Minot-Oil-on-linen-762-1032-cm-Gift-of-Mrs_fig4_307840044

Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii. Mostly paintings but a travel poster or two included.


“Canoes at Diamond Head”. 1890. American. Oil on canvas. Edward Bailey, artist (1814-1903). Collections of the Bailey House Museum, Maui. In the public domain because the artist died over 100 years ago. via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%27Canoes_at_Diamond_Head%27,_oil_on_canvas_painting_by_Edward_Bailey,_1890,_Maui_Historical_Society.jpg


“Waikiki Beach.” ca. 1898. American. Oil on redwood panel. Charles Furneaux, artist (1835-1913). Image source: https://archive.is/X51XG Frazier Fine Art. In the public domain in the United States because the artist has been dead over 100 years. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%27Waikiki_Beach%27_by_Charles_Furneaux,_c._1898.JPG
“Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii.” 1950s travel poster, printed in Maui, Hawaii. Image © Art.com. Fair use license. via https://www.art.com/products/p13457081247-sa-i6457290/fred-ludekens-waikiki-beach-honolulu-hawaii-c-1950s.htm
“Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach”. 1918. American. Oil on canvas. Lionel Walden, artist (1861 or 1862 – 1933). Collections of the Hawaii State Art Museum. In the public domain in the United States because the artist died over 80 years ago. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%27Diamond_Head_and_Waikiki_Beach%27_by_Lionel_Walden,_1918,_Hawaii_State_Art_Museum.JPG

Early American portraits of children. Joseph Goodhue Chandler, artist. Living from 1813 to 1884, he studied art in Albany, New York. First working as an itinerant painter, he later had a studio in Boston.

Portrait of Hugh and Wright Carpenter. ca. 1861. American. Oil on canvas. Attributed to Joseph Goodhue Chandler. Collections of the Bennington Museum, Bennington, Vermont. Image source: Daderot.In the public domain because the artist died over 70 years ago. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hugh_and_Wright_Carpenter,attributed_to_Joseph_Goodhue_Chandler,_c._1861,_oil_on_canvas–Bennington_Museum–Bennington,_VT-_DSC08549.JPG
Full Length Portrait of Two Children, The Boy Holding a Cane, The Girl in a Red Dress Holding a Basket of Flowers. ca. 1840. American. Oil on canvas. Unsigned. Attributed to Joseph Goodhue Chandler. Image © 2017 Jeffrey Tillou Antiques. Fair use license. via https://www.tillouantiques.com/inventory/joseph-goodhue-chandler-1813-1884-activelived-in-massachusetts-new-york/
“The Slater Children.” ca. 1835. American. Oil on canvas. Joseph Goodhue Chandler, artist. Artwork in the public domain due to age. via https://poulwebb.blogspot.com/2016/12/american-folk-art-part-18.html
1837-1845c “Young Girl Holding a Cluster of Grapes with Her Dog at Her Feet.” ca. 1837-1845. American.
Oil on canvas. Joseph Goodhue Chandler, artist. Artwork in the public domain due to age. via https://poulwebb.blogspot.com/2016/12/american-folk-art-part-18.html
“Miss Mary S. Gardner aged Three Years.” 1850. American. Oil on canvas. Joseph Goodhue Chandler, artist. Artwork in the public domain due to age. via https://poulwebb.blogspot.com/2016/12/american-folk-art-part-18.html

More selections from “A Portfolio of Fish.” American fish beautifully portrayed by illustrator Miles Rost. From the 1930s. All from the website of archive.org. Collections of the Carlsbad City Library, Carlsbad, California.

“Lake Erie Herring (Leveichthys artedi) Natural size.” Number 77 in “A Portfolio of Fish”. Published in 1935. Rost Miles, illustrator. Collections of the Carlsbad City Library. In the public domain. via https://archive.org/details/ccarl_000081
“Rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris Rafinesque)”. Number 61 Number 77 in “A Portfolio of Fish”. Published in 1935. Rost Miles, illustrator. Collections of the Carlsbad City Library. In the public domain. via https://archive.org/details/ccarl_000065
“Marlin”. From “A Portfolio of Fish”. Published in 1935. Rost Miles, illustrator. Collections of the Carlsbad City Library. In the public domain. via https://archive.org/details/ccarl_000134

Landscapes with trees by American artist Emile Branchard. Living from 1881 to 1938, he may have learned to paint from watching his stepfather. All of these from a current Swann catalog.

“At the Lake.” ca. 1930-1937. American. Oil on canvas. Signed in oil on the lower left. Exhibited at the Beth Urdang Gallery, Wellesley, Massachusetts with the label on the frame back. Image © Swann Auction Galleries. Fair use license. via https://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/Lots/auction-lot/EMILE-BRANCHARD–1881-1938–At-the-Lake?saleno=2579&lotNo=73&refNo=785698
“The Old Barn.” ca. 1930-1938. American. Oil on canvas. Signed on the lower left. Image © Swann Auction Galleries. Fair use license. via https://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/Lots/auction-lot/EMILE-BRANCHARD–1881-1938–The-Old-Barn?saleno=2579&lotNo=74&refNo=785693
“Mountain Landscape.” ca. 1930. American. Oil on board. Image © Swann Auction Galleries. Fair use license. via https://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/Lots/auction-lot/EMILE-BRANCHARD–1881-1938–Mountain-Landscape?saleno=2579&lotNo=75&refNo=785775

Fish, birds and plants, plates from Mark Catesby’s two volume 1754 folio “The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands: containing the figures of birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, insects, and plants.” Second edition.

“Suillus” (?). Image from “The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands: containing the figures of birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, insects, and plants; particularly, those not hitherto described, or incorrectly figured by former authors, with their descriptions in English and French.” Image © 2021 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/fine-books-and-manuscripts-2/catesby-mark-the-most-famous-colorplate-book-of
“Turdus Rhomboidalis” (upper) and “Turdus” (lower image). Image from “The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands: containing the figures of birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, insects, and plants; particularly, those not hitherto described, or incorrectly figured by former authors, with their descriptions in English and French.” Image © 2021 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/fine-books-and-manuscripts-2/catesby-mark-the-most-famous-colorplate-book-of
“Cancer clieîis crafsifsimis.” Image from “The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands: containing the figures of birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, insects, and plants; particularly, those not hitherto described, or incorrectly figured by former authors, with their descriptions in English and French.” Image © 2021 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/fine-books-and-manuscripts-2/catesby-mark-the-most-famous-colorplate-book-of
“Live oak” (left) and the large red crested woodpecker (right).” Image from “The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands: containing the figures of birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, insects, and plants; particularly, those not hitherto described, or incorrectly figured by former authors, with their descriptions in English and French.” Image © 2021 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/fine-books-and-manuscripts-2/catesby-mark-the-most-famous-colorplate-book-of
“Ardea (heron)” and “Lobelia.” Image from “The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands: containing the figures of birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, insects, and plants; particularly, those not hitherto described, or incorrectly figured by former authors, with their descriptions in English and French.” Image © 2021 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/fine-books-and-manuscripts-2/catesby-mark-the-most-famous-colorplate-book-of

Make your automobile smile. Buy one of these chromed Art Deco mascots for it. All of these from a recent Bonham’s auction.

“Stork” mascot in chromed metal, based on the famous design by Francois Bazin. Mounted on a period radiator cap. 1935. Maker not shown. Image © Bonhams 2001-2021. Fair use license. via https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/27140/lot/49/?category=list&length=12&page=5
“Serpent” mascot in nickel plated bronze, on a chromed locking radiator cap. 1920s. French. J. A. Bebin, maker. Image © Bonhams 2001-2021. Fair use license. via https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/27140/lot/54/?category=list&length=12&page=5
“Lady water-skier” mascot in chrome plated die-cast metal, mounted on a radiator cap. 1930s. American, made in Chicago by Krone and Sebek. Image  © Bonhams 2001-2021. Fair use license. via https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/27140/lot/55/?category=list&length=12&page=5
Automobile mascot modeled as a winged nymph in the nude holding the chains of an aquaplane board. Chrome plated die-cast alloy mounted on a radiator cap. 1930s. British. Maker not given. Image © Bonhams 2001-2021. Fair use license. via https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/27140/lot/56/?category=list&length=12&page=5

Portraits of Native American chiefs. “The aboriginal portfolio : a collection of portraits of the most celebrated chiefs of the North American Indians.” Published in Philadelphia in 1835, it is the work of James Otto Lewis (1799-1858).

“Kee-O-Kuck or the Watching Fox: The present chief of the Sauk tribe and Successor to Black Hawk.” Page 1. Painted by J. O. Lewis at the great treaty of Prairie du Chien in 1825. Lehman and Duval, Philadelphia, engravers. Gregory Javitch Native Peoples of the New World Collection, University of Alberta Libraries. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/bp_1389667/mode/1up
“Nabu-Naa-Kee-Schick or The One Side of the Sky. A Chippewa chief.” Page 2. Painted at the Treaty of Fond du Lac (on Lake Superior) by J. O. Lewis in 1826. Lehman and Duval, Philadelphia, engravers. Gregory Javitch Native Peoples of the New World Collection, University of Alberta Libraries. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/bp_1389667/page/n1/mode/1up
“Waa-Na-Taa or the Foremost in Battle: Chief of the Sioux Tribe.” Page 3. Painted by J. O. Lewis at the Treaty of Prairie du Chien in 1825. Lehman and Duval, Philadelphia, engravers. Gregory Javitch Native Peoples of the New World Collection, University of Alberta Libraries. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/bp_1389667/page/n2/mode/1up
“The Little Crow: A celebrated Sioux Chief.” Page 12. Page 3. Painted by J. O. Lewis at the Treaty of Prairie du Chien in 1825. Lehman and Duval, Philadelphia, engravers. Gregory Javitch Native Peoples of the New World Collection, University of Alberta Libraries. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/bp_1389667/page/n12/mode/1up

James Otto Lewis started out as an engraver in Philadelphia around 1815. Fascinated by what he learned of the western territories, as a young man he went west in 1819. Traveling with the governor of the Michigan Territory Lewis worked for the United States government painting official portraits of Native Americans in the course of his employment which included attending numerous treaties and ceremonies so these are painted from life. Learn more about him here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Otto_Lewis. Quite a few so more for later posts, too.

Watercolors of flowers. American. Annie Gooding Sykes, artist. Living from 1855 to 1931, she was the daughter of a silversmith. Studied at the Cincinnati Art Academy.

“Still Life with Chrysanthemums.” Undated. American. Watercolor and gouache on artist’s board. Signed in watercolor on the lower left. Image © Swann Auction Galleries. Fair use license. via https://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/Lots/auction-lot/ANNIE-GOODING-SYKES-Still-Life-with-Chrysanthemums?saleno=2575&lotNo=71&refNo=778303

“Gladiolus Garden.” ca. 1900. American. Watercolor on cream wove paper. Signed in pencil over red ink on the lower left. Image © Swann Auction Galleries. Fair use license. via https://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/Lots/auction-lot/ANNIE-GOODING-SYKES-Gladiolus-Garden?saleno=2575&lotNo=72&refNo=778301
“Lillies in Bloom.” 20th c. American. Watercolor. Signed on the lower right. Image © 1stDibs.com, Inc. 2021. Fair use license. via https://www.1stdibs.com/art/drawings-watercolor-paintings/landscape-drawings-watercolors/annie-gooding-sykes-lillies-bloom/id-a_421482/

Masks of the Zuni, taken from the 23rd annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, J. W. Powell, director. 1901-1902.

“Mask of ᵗkĭa’nilona (Owner of Springs): Front and Rear Views.” Page 75. Collections of the Boston Public Library.  Kahle/Austin Foundation and Omidyar Network, digitalizing sponsor. In the public domain due to age. via  https://archive.org/details/annualreportofbu23smit/page/n75/mode/1up?view=theater
“a: Mask of Ko’yemshi; b, c: Mask of Ko’mokätᵗsi: Front and Rear Views.” Page 91. Collections of the Boston Public Library.  Kahle/Austin Foundation and Omidyar Network, digitalizing sponsor. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/annualreportofbu23smit/page/n91/mode/1up?view=theater
“Mask of A Sayaᵗhlia (Warrior God).” Page 181. Collections of the Boston Public Library.  Kahle/Austin Foundation and Omidyar Network, digitalizing sponsor. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/annualreportofbu23smit/page/n181/mode/1up?view=theater

The post is taken from imagery at archive.org but I got the idea here https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/zuni-masks and have used their descriptions instead of making them out myself to save time. More coming from this fabulous work!