Gordon Grant

"Full Sail"

Circa 1930

Beautiful watercolor and gouache on archival paper by the well known Maine artist Bill Paxton. The watercolor depicts what Portland harbor in Maine looked like in 1910 with sailing vessels of the era moored in the harbor. Signed lower right by the artist. Titled verso. Circa 1975. Condition is excellent and is finely matted and framed. The artwork is matted and framed in a thin gold leaf custom gallery frame. Overall framed measurements are 17.5 by 21.75 inches. Provenance: Sarasota, Florida estate. William (Bill) Paxton 1930—2007 William Paxton, born August 5, 1930 in Lewiston, was one of Maine’s top selling artists. He had a passion for painting and from a young age he was known for his talents in sketching. Paxton captured many popular Maine scenes with watercolor, acrylic, and oils. His work also includes historical scenes he referenced in books from as early as the 1920’s, painting locomotives, aircraft, and war scenes. Paxton’s art is sold all over the world. As a student at Bridgton Academy, he was featured in his yearbook. It states, “When artist Bill picks up his pen, we all stand at attention, for his remarks and pictures are certainly worth mention.” He wanted to pursue a career selling his art, but it was during the time of the Great Depression. Also in his younger years, Paxton had an interest in skiing and won a medal for Second Highest Ski Jump. From there he went to flying and received a certification for Second-in-Command, to fly alongside the captain in a C-46F type of aircraft. He then joined the Air Force in the 40’s, although his passion and talents for art were constant throughout his life. Paxton quickly became the front line military sketch...

Original watercolor on archival paper by the well known Massachusetts artist, John Cuthbert Hare. Signed lower right you the artist. Condition is excellent. The artwork is in its original gold leaf over wood frame. Circa 1950. Under glass. The scene is mostly likely the Cape Cod coast where Hare painted. Overall framed measurements are 16 by 20 inches. Provenance: Massachusetts estate. New England painter John Cuthbert Hare was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1908 and studied commercial art at the Pratt Institute in New York City and later at the Art Students League also in New York City. He also studied at the Grand Central School of Art in New York followed by employment with the Hearst Newspaper Corporation. For a number of years after his marriage in 1933, Hare and his wife traveled throughout the United States and Europe. Hare was a member of the Provincetown Art Colony, Cape Cod, Massachusetts and was to become known as the "Dean of Cape Cod Artists...

"A Norman Peasant's Home," (Near Caudebec -en-Caux, Seine, France); and also identified as, "Peasant's Doorway." by Hezekiah Anthony Dyer. This area would be considered Normandy hence the title. Watercolor and gouache on archival paper. Signed lower left by the artist. Condition is very good. Included with the purchase is dated 1925 correspondence between the artist and purchaser of the painting with apologies from the artist for the painting not being shipped from Newport on time. Recently professionally custom double matted and framed under glass. Overall framed measurements are 19.25 by 15.5 inches. Provenance: Rhode Island collector. H. A. Dyer 1872 - 1943 Historical Rhode Island artist Hezekiah Anthony Dyer, son of Elisha and Nancy Anthony Dyer , was born into a prominent Rhode Island family, having both his grandfather and father serve as governor of the state. A descendent of the Hoppin family, known for their own artistic inclination, Dyer inherited both an interest in the arts as well as his father’s interest in public affairs. He fulfilled his destiny by becoming a notable figure in Rhode Island politics and public service as well as an accomplished artist. Dyer attended boarding school at St. Paul’s Church in Concord, New Hampshire and then went on to attend Brown University. Following his graduation from Brown in 1894, Dyer became serious about pursuing an art career and made the decision to travel abroad to Holland, Italy and France where he focused on refining his watercolor technique. Following his initial trip to Europe, Dyer returned to Providence and attended classes at the Rhode Island School of Design. By 1919 he received an Honorary Masters of Arts Degree from Brown University. Throughout his life, Dyer traveled to Europe for several months of each year to paint. He had a particular affinity for European seascapes and landscapes, as well as for picturesque scenes of old European villages. Dyer’s travels took him throughout the continent including Belgium, Brittany, Normandy, England and both the Swiss and Italian Alpine regions. Hezekiah was heavily influenced by the English School of painting, and in the early years of his career as a painter, worked exclusively in a deliberately realistic style. During this time, Dyer also began showcasing his paintings in exhibits that consisted of only his own work and which were very successful. As his painting progressed, Dyer allowed himself to experiment more in the field of watercolor. He developed a technique of painting on grey or tan paper and would paint everything lighter than the paper using an opaque gouache, and everything darker than the paper in transparent washes of color. This technique allowed Dyer to represent a great deal of detail not usually found in watercolor paintings. It also resulted in wonderfully vibrant colors that would not fade when dry. H. A. Dyer was a prominent member of both the art community and of Rhode Island public life. While he never held an office, Dyer became very involved in politics and from 1916 to 1919 was president of the Republican Club of Rhode Island. At the beginning of the First World War, Hezekiah was made chairman of the speaker’s bureau for the Food Administration of Rhode Island, and was later made chairman of the speaker’s bureau for the Council of Defense. Dyer also became a chairman for a philanthropic organization called Rhode Island of the Fatherless Children of France. In 1922, France presented both Hezekiah Dyer...

Wonderful original watercolor of a bucolic scene with a farm with geese and a man on his horse driven wagon as the sun sets in the English countryside. Signed lower left by the British artist, Henry Charles Fox...

Edward J. Howman (English, nineteenth century) Castel dell'Ovo, Naples, 1851 Watercolor and gouache on paper, 7 x 10 inches Framed: 12 x 15 inches (approx.) Label on backing verso: ...

Edmund Darch Lewis (American, 1835–1910) Atlantic City Beach Scene with Elephant, 1884 Watercolor on grey paper, 8 x 18 1/2 inches(sight); Framed: 16 x 26 inches This view of the beach near Atlantic City features Lucy the Elephant...

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Percival Skelton (English, active 1852-87) Cherbourg Watercolor on paper, 5 3/8 X 9 3/8 inches Framed: 11 x 15 inches (approx.) Inscribed at lower left: "Cherbourg"; at lower right: ...