Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 14

William Clothier Watts
Early 20th Century Peking Bell Tower

circa 1920-1930

About the Item

Vibrant scene of visitors arriving by camels at the Peking Bell Tower by William Clothier Watts (American 1967-1961). This piece is unsigned, but has an appraisal letter from Davis-Holdship Appraisers and statement from the artist's physician's widow attesting to the provenance. There is a second painting on verso of a Arabian market scene. Presented in a giltwood frame and linen covered mat with glass. Image size: 20" x 16" William Clothier Watts (American 1967-1961), primarily a watercolor artist, was born in Philadelphia, PA August 6, 1867 and died in Carmel, California May 13, 1961. Watts' family was engaged in the import of ivory and rare woods. Watts began painting at an early age and by the age of 18 he had exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA) where he studied under T. Anshutz, R. Vonnoh and G. Essig. From 1889 to 1946 his artwork was exhibited at the PAFA Annual Exhibitions no less than 25 times. He also exhibited at: the California State Fair where he received first prizes five times; the Carmel Art Association in 1946, 1952 and 1967; at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco in 1915 (silver medal); at the Golden Gate International Exposition in 1939; at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1923-25, 1929; and many other venues. Watts settled in Carmel, CA. in 1915. He bought property there and built a house/studio in Carmel Highlands overlooking the Pacific Ocean. He was an early and active member of the Carmel Art Association. He was a teacher, exhibitor and participated as a judge for many exhibits of the Carmel art colony. Watts traveled and painted throughout the world. His journeys included North Africa (Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt), the Mediterranean (Greece, Syria, Jordan, Palestine), the Balkans (Bosnia, Serbia, Dalmatia), Northern Europe (Norway), Asia (China, India, Burma) and other exotic places. He did extensive work in the Carmel and Big Sur areas, Arizona, New Mexico and other Southwest and East Coast regions. His vibrant landscapes of the places he visited capture the essence of the subject matter and constitute a valuable record of significant historical and geographic sites. In addition to the Carmel AA, Watts was a member of the Philadelphia Sketch Club, the Philadelphia WC Club and the California WC Society. Several museums have his paintings in their collections.
  • Creator:
    William Clothier Watts (1869 - 1961, American)
  • Creation Year:
    circa 1920-1930
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 27.13 in (68.92 cm)Width: 23 in (58.42 cm)Depth: 0.75 in (1.91 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Some fading to the sky color from more blue/magenta to cyan. all others colors are vibrant and strong.
  • Gallery Location:
    Soquel, CA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: JT-DBH23521stDibs: LU5424800711
More From This SellerView All
  • Horse in the Fields - 1930's Watercolor Figurative Landscape
    By John Stellman
    Located in Soquel, CA
    Horse in the fields, a figurative watercolor landscape by Louis John Stellman (American, 1877-1961), c.1935. Presented in a wooden frame with linen liner. Signed "Stellman" lower right. Image size, 15"H x 19"W. Stellman moved to CA in 1901. By 1920 he had settled in San Francisco where he worked both as an artist and a writer for the Call-Bulletin newspaper. He later moved to the Monterey Peninsula where he remained until his death. Married to artist Edith K. Stellman (1877-1957). Works held: de Young Legion of Honor. His books include: Mate o'dreams and Other Poems Mother Lode; The Story of California's Gold Rush Port O' Gold A History-Romance of the San Francisco Argonauts Said the Observer Sam Brannan, Builder of San Francisco; A Biography That Was a Dream Worth Building; the Spirit of San Francisco's Great Fair Portrayed in Pictures and Words The Vanished Ruin Eta; San Francisco's Classic Artistry of Ruin Depicted in Picture and Song Stellmann was a protegé of Arnold Genthe...
    Category

    1930s American Impressionist Landscape Drawings and Watercolors

    Materials

    Paper, Watercolor

  • Mount Washington Farmhouse, Watercolor Landscape with Barn
    Located in Soquel, CA
    Scenic countryside landscape of a barn and cows in front of Mount Washington by Mark Henthorn (American, 1943-2018), 1980. Signed and dated "Henthorn '80" lower left. Displayed in rustic wood frame. Image size, 12"H x 16"L. Mark Henthorn was an American painter with a love of nature and strong respect for light. His work depicts a mood of peace and serenity seen in the spaciousness of the Western landscape. He spent over thirty years as an award-winning architect and illustrator. His art has been displayed in galleries in Idaho, Montana, Colorado, and in the Port Townsend...
    Category

    1980s American Impressionist Landscape Drawings and Watercolors

    Materials

    Watercolor, Paper

  • California Gold Town, Small-Scale Vintage Figurative Landscape Watercolor
    Located in Soquel, CA
    Charming small-scale watercolor painting of figures sitting outside an old building in a small California gold town by R. E. Baker (American, 20th Century). The warm color palette of...
    Category

    Late 20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Drawings and Waterco...

    Materials

    Paper, Watercolor

  • Fishing Boats at Shore, 1940's Seascape Watercolor
    Located in Soquel, CA
    Beautiful mid-century small-scale watercolor landscape of fishermen with their boats on the shore by unknown artist. Signed lower left corner illegibly. Circa 1940's. Unframed. Image...
    Category

    1940s American Impressionist Landscape Drawings and Watercolors

    Materials

    Paper, Watercolor

  • Mid Century Country House Landscape
    By Rene Weaver
    Located in Soquel, CA
    Vivid watercolor of a country house and grove of trees in a rural landscape of rolling green hills, with farm animals in the distance, by California artist Rene Weaver (American, 189...
    Category

    1940s American Impressionist Landscape Drawings and Watercolors

    Materials

    Paper, Watercolor

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

    Late 20th Century American Impressionist Landscape Drawings and Watercolors

    Materials

    Paper, Watercolor

You May Also Like
  • "Untitled 1, " Watercolor Painting
    Located in Denver, CO
    Clyde Steadman's "Untitled 1" is an original, handmade watercolor painting that depicts an urban landscape with human silhouettes.
    Category

    2010s American Impressionist Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

    Materials

    Paper, Watercolor

  • Mother and Children watercolor painting by John E. Costigan
    By John Costigan
    Located in Hudson, NY
    Painting measures 22" x 28" and framed 26" x 32" x 2" Hand-signed "J.E. Costigan NA 1952" lower left. About this artist: John Costigan was a self-taught painter distinguished by h...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

    Materials

    Paper, Watercolor

  • 59th Street Bridge, Pennsylvania Impressionist Watercolor Cityscape
    By Walter Emerson Baum
    Located in Doylestown, PA
    "59th Street Bridge" is a 22" x 30" watercolor on paper cityscape of the Brooklyn Bridge and city skyline, painted by Pennsylvania Impressionist and...
    Category

    1940s American Impressionist Landscape Drawings and Watercolors

    Materials

    Watercolor, Archival Paper

  • Pine trees in a river valley with the Blue Ridge Mountains - American School
    Located in Middletown, NY
    An unfinished but spirited plein-air composition of what appears to be the Shenandoah or Potomac River valley with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance. Watercolor on board with...
    Category

    Early 1900s American Impressionist Landscape Drawings and Watercolors

    Materials

    Crayon, Watercolor, Board

  • Colon [Panama]
    By Reynolds Beal
    Located in New York, NY
    Reynolds Beal painted this watercolor entitled “Colon” [Panama] in the spring of 1923. The paper size of this painting is 7 x 10" (17.7 x 25.3 cm). It is signed, titled, and dated ...
    Category

    Early 20th Century American Impressionist Landscape Drawings and Waterco...

    Materials

    Watercolor, Pencil

  • Newbury Street, Boston [Louis Boston / Bonwit Teller Building]
    Located in Boston, MA
    This watercolor by Charles Demetropoulos depicts a classical French Academic-style building which was designed in 1862 by architect William G. Preston as the new home of the Boston Society for Natural History, which had been founded in 1830. In the 1860’s, many of Boston’s cultural institutions relocated here to the Back Bay, the elegant residential district being built on the tidal marshes behind the city. When the museum moved here in 1863, the new building dominated the western edge of the landfill. The classical design reflected its role as a “temple of learning.” The building was later renovated into a women’s retail store known as Bonwit Teller and later became home to Louis Boston...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Landscape Drawings and Watercolors

    Materials

    Watercolor

Recently Viewed

View All