Carib Indians Around a Jungle Campfire, with a Piton in the Background

Oil on canvas, signed indistinctly on the stretcher. Mid 19th century carved wood, compo and gilt frame

Painting Size: 9.25” x 12”
Frame Size: 13.5” x 16.5”

“On the qui vive” (The Smuggler)

Oil on canvas , titled, signed and dated on the reverse

"QUI VIVE" (A French phrase meaning long live who? (a sentry’s challenge), used to mean a state of alertness or watchfulness.)

Painting: 30" x 25"
Frame: 36.5" x 31.5"

One of the best-known painters working in north-east England during the early nineteenth century Henry Perlee Parker specialized in pictures of marine subjects and smugglers and came to be known as "Smuggler" Parker. He was a leading artist in Newcastle in the 1820s and 1830s, a member of the Northumberland Institution, and a co-founder (with T.M. Richardson) of the ill-fated Northern Academy of Arts. He died penniless in Shepherd's Bush in 1873. There was an exhibition of his work at the Laing Art Gallery, 1969-1970.

See Wiikpedia entry for a more complete biography

Schooner off the Atlantic Coast

Watercolor on paper, signed lower left and dated “1896”

Sight Size:13" x 26"
Frame Size: 23.25" x 36"

Lewis was born and died and Philadelphia where he studied with Paul Weber from about 1850-55. According to Peter Falk ("Who Was Who in American Art"), “he was one of the most popular landscape painters of Philadelphia during the late 19th century. His early works were chiefly scenes of the Lehigh, Susquehana, and Wissihickon Rivers of Pennsylvania, and were in great demand. Before 1860 he also exhibited landscapes of New York and New England and even some Cuban scenes. By the mid 1870’s he turned increasingly to shoreline views with yachting scenes, painting prolifically in watercolor from Cape May, NJ to Narragansett, RI. Wealthy and admired, he entertained in a grand style in his opulent Philadelphia home surrounded by an extensive collection of antique furniture, china and decorative arts.”

Charles Lanman (American, 1819-1895)

Oil on paper laid-down, signed.

Lanman is listed in The Artists of Washington, DC 1796-1996 by McMahan.

Painting size: 11” x 15”
Frame size: 16” x 20”

James Curnock (British, 1812-1870)

Oil on canvas, signed.

A resident of Bristol, Curnock was best known for his portraits and figure subjects. He exhibited at both the Royal Academy and the Society of British Artists, Suffolk Street. His work is held in the permanent collection of the Bristol Art Gallery.

Curnock is listed in the Dictionary of British Artists, Vol. IV, Victorian Painters by Wood.

Painting size: 19” x 24”
Frame size: 25” x 31”

Ernest Bosch (German, 1834-1917)

Oil on canvas, signed lower left (behind frame).

Bosch was a pupil at the Academy of Dusseldorf under the instruction of K. Solm, T. Hildebrandt and Schadow. He was best known for his portrait and genre paintings. His genre paintings frequently included animals. Later in his career, he turned his focus more toward portraits of women. In addition to painting, Bosch was a skilled illustrator, etcher and lithographer. His works are held in the permanent collections of the Museum of Bremer and Museum of Hanover.

Bosch is listed in "Dictionnaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs, et Graveurs" by Bénézit and in "Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künstler von der Antike bis zu Gegenwart" by Thieme/Becker.

Painting size: 22” x 25”
Frame size: 28.25” x 31.25”

James John Hill (British, 1811-1882)

Oil on canvas, signed and dated: “(18__)” and retainging its original gilt wood and gesso frame.

Painting size: 12” x 10”
Frame size: 32” x 42”

Rene Clarot (Belgian, 1882-1972)

Oil on canvas, signed: “Clarot R” and dated: “1907”.

A post-impressionist painter of marines and landscapes, Clarot worked in oils, watercolors and pastels. He was a student at the Academy of Brussels from 1896-1905. Upon completion of his studies, he traveled frequently to France and Germany. He eventually became well known for his numerous paintings of the ports of Brittany.

He exhibited extensively and was considered a member of the “L’essor” circle. In 1967, the gallery l’Escalier in Brussels devoted an exhibit to a retrospective of his work.

Clarot is listed in in Dictionnaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs, et Graveurs by Bénézit.

Painting size: 12” x 23.75”
Frame Size: 17” x 28.75”

Extensive Woodland Landscape with Stream

Oil on canvas, signed.

Painting size: 20.25” x 26”
Frame size: 31.25” x 47.25”

Decker received his art training from R. Swain Gifford. His first important recognition occurred when he was thirty-six when the the National Academy of Design exhibited one of his paintings. That same year, the Brooklyn Art Association also exhibited one of his works. He went on to become a well known exhibitor in Brooklyn and exhibited at the National Academy of Design from 1883 to 1898 . He was also a professionally successful artist during his life with a record of sales to numerous affluent patrons. He was a member of the Brooklyn Art Club and Society of Brooklyn Artists.

Decker is listed in Who Was Who in American Art by Falk.

Young Boy With Doll and Clay Pipe

Oil on board, signed lower left and dated "1872"

Painting Size: 10.5” x 8.25”
Frame Size: 15.5 ” x 13.25”

Mrs. Cloud was a painter of domestic genre scenes and is recorded as having exhibited at the Royal Academy, Suffolk Street and other galleries in England. A title of one of her paintings was “The Connemara Postman”. Little seems to be known of her painting career, but she wrote several articles for “Harper’s New Monthly Magazine” (Harper & Brothers, NY) which are all about her travels as a single woman in the 1870’s and 80‘s in Ireland. Her charming pen drawings illustrate rural life and scenes in Ireland for each article. Titles include: “A Lone Woman in Ireland”(1873), "The Connemara Hills" (1879), “An Irish Fishing Village” (1880) and “Ireland - The Arran Islands” (1881)

Sources:
Graves, Algernon, "Dictionary of Artists in the Principal London Exhibitions from 1760-1893"
Wood, Christopher. "Dictionary of British Art. Vol. IV, Victorian Painters"
"Harper’s New Monthly Magazine"

Young Busker With His Monkey

Oil-on-canvas, signed lower right

Painting Size: 24.5” x 20”
Frame Size: 35 ” x 30.25”

Thomsen was an artist adept at painting many different subjects: landscapes, portraits, genre scenes, mythological subjects and religious scenes. He was a student at l’Académie des Beaux-Arts in Copenhagen. He painted numerous altar pieces for the churches of Copenhagen as well as the country churches of surrounding area. This sensitive painting depicts a young street musician with his hurdy-gurdy slung over his back, his monkey tucked under his arm and his outstretched hand with his hat ready to receive coins.

Source:
Benezit, E. Dictionnaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs