auction house.
Oct. 11th, 2010 09:55 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
duccioHere are two paintings I liked during the Saturday auction which I was unable to attend due to a sudden onset of lucrative work.
This first one of Children Running on a Beach seemed like it might have been original art for a book illustration. Peculiarly, the artist neglected to include one of the legs of the boy, but not the leg's shadow. Oil on linen, 20x24. This painting sold for the opening bid of $25.
10100393.
The second one here was part of a two lot. The other painting was really wretched and I imagined gessoing over it and reusing the canvas (such pictures should be obliterated for the good of humanity). This one was labeled as Beach Scene and examination reveals that it is a plein air artist under an umbrella painting a coastal landscape. This one is a rather good plein air I thought. It (with it's awful companion) sold for $30, after starting at $25. for the pair. Oil on linen, 16x20.
10100437.
If I hadn't gone to work on short notice, I would have probably won both of them. This auction going is really lots of fun and is a bit like an archeological dig. There is so much trash, and then here is a desirable treasure. We try and go every month and root through all the myriad collections of stuff. At least I get some interesting photos if I don't bid or win anything. I am never upset about losing an auction. I have enough ebay experience to know you win some, you lose some, and there will always be interesting things next month. Plus, my house is getting full, so, "Whew! I didn't win!"
This first one of Children Running on a Beach seemed like it might have been original art for a book illustration. Peculiarly, the artist neglected to include one of the legs of the boy, but not the leg's shadow. Oil on linen, 20x24. This painting sold for the opening bid of $25.
10100393.
The second one here was part of a two lot. The other painting was really wretched and I imagined gessoing over it and reusing the canvas (such pictures should be obliterated for the good of humanity). This one was labeled as Beach Scene and examination reveals that it is a plein air artist under an umbrella painting a coastal landscape. This one is a rather good plein air I thought. It (with it's awful companion) sold for $30, after starting at $25. for the pair. Oil on linen, 16x20.
10100437.
If I hadn't gone to work on short notice, I would have probably won both of them. This auction going is really lots of fun and is a bit like an archeological dig. There is so much trash, and then here is a desirable treasure. We try and go every month and root through all the myriad collections of stuff. At least I get some interesting photos if I don't bid or win anything. I am never upset about losing an auction. I have enough ebay experience to know you win some, you lose some, and there will always be interesting things next month. Plus, my house is getting full, so, "Whew! I didn't win!"
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-13 08:46 am (UTC)The first one uses a sort of dry brush "scumble" technique of lighter colors over the dark toned canvas. The white is used to show the splashes and wave foam, and then to highlight the distant water and waves in a more broad technique to reflect the sky and the presence of sunlight, and indicate the form and mass. At the bottom the dry brush in small nebulous smudges of very light blue and pink is used to reflect the light blue of the sky, leaving the underpainted earth tone and canvas texture to indicate the sand. The pink in the very bottom is a good warm lead in, coming forward, keeping the illusion of the sand from dropping off to vertical. The splashes drawn in with quick, direct, small white slashes. A lot is suggested with very limited and economical means. That's why I thought this might have been a study for a book illustration by an illustrator in the mode of Howard Pyle or NC Wyeth. Someone second string to them. This painting would definitely benefit from a good cleaning to eliminate the tobacco stains and grime. I'd estimate it's from about 1910, although I m not an expert.
I also thought the nostalgic content was nice and made me think of the two kids running, like the freedom of the sea. I think whoever got it at the auction will find it comforting to see every now and then.