Ephraim Samson

Mill Valley, California

2003

This artwork " Oxford Cityscape #2" 1972 is a watercolor by noted architectural British artist, Ken Messer 1931-2017. It is signed and dated at the lower left corner by the artist. The artwork size is 10.5 x 13.65 inches, framed size is 15.85 x 19 inches. It is custom framed in his original wooden gold and green frame. Artwork and frame are in very good condition. About the artist. After attending City of Oxford High School for Boys, where he excelled at rugby and cricket, he started work as an accountant in the city. He then moved on to become a steward for the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). In the 1960’s Mr Messer was involved in a car accident which would end his sporting career and change his working life. When he left his job with BOAC he became a graphic designer at Pergamon Press, owned by Robert Maxwell, which allowed him time to pursue his real passion which was painting watercolours. He rose through the ranks at Pergamon to become studio manager and when he could progress no further he decided to become a full time artist, a role from which he never retired. He quickly became well-known for his paintings of Oxford...

This artwork "Fishing Village, Scotland" c.1930, is a watercolor on paper by British artist Ken Cherrington, 1886-1969. It is signed at the lower left corner by the artist. The artwo...

EDWARD DUNCAN, RWS (1803-1882) Boulogne Fishing Boat Signed l.l.: E Duncan; bears title on a label on the reverse Watercolour and pen and ink Unframed 24.5 by 30.5 cm.; 9 ¾ by 12 in. (mount size 31 by 37.5 cm., 12 ¼ by 14 ¾ in.) Provenance: Private collection. Born in London, Duncan was apprenticed to the studio of Robert Havell, principal aquatint engraver of Audubon’s Birds of America...

Adalbert Holzer (1881 Munich - 1966 Munich). Wettersteinkamm. Watercolour, 29 x 34.5 cm (visible size), 37.5 x 43 cm (frame), signed and dated at lower right 'ADALBERT HOLZER [19]23'. Framed behind glass. Frame shows signs of wear. - The blue of the mountains - About the artwork The Wetterstein ridge is revealed to the viewer from a gentle, snow-covered hill. In contrast to conventional depictions of mountains, the painting is composed entirely of shades of blue, which condense into the blue-grey of the rock or fade into the white of the snow. As a complementary colour to the blue, Holzer virtuously activates the ochre ground. The uniform yet exciting polarity of the colours emphasises the massive majesty of the mountains and at the same time underlines the special character of the Wetterstein ridge. Holzer transferred the translucency of glass painting, in which he was originally trained, to watercolour and developed a pictorial language related to the art of Ferdinand Hodler, which earned him the nickname 'Master of Blue' and led to the appreciation of his watercolours in particular. About the artist After an apprenticeship as a stained glass painter at the Kunstgewerbeschule, Adalbert Holzer studied at the Munich Art Academy under Carl von Marr...