Conrad Buff

Tahoe Vista, c. 1945

c. 1945

Provenance Consigned to the gallery by private collectors Signed "Jack Wilkinson Smith" lower left Description Jack Wilkinson Smith was a New York-based illustrator before moving o...

Consigned to the gallery, Pasadena, California; From a private collector, Encino, California, by descent; Acquired in 1997 by a private collector, Palo Alto, California; From Sean's Antiques, San Francisco, California. Signed "L.P. Latimer" on lower right Description This intimate watercolor captures Fallen Leaf Lake, a serene alpine lake in El Dorado County, California, situated just south of Lake Tahoe—an area celebrated each autumn for the Kokanee Salmon trail runs. Latimer invites the viewer onto a rocky slope, framed by stately evergreens, guiding the gaze across the lake’s glassy blue surface toward the snow-capped Sierra Nevada peaks beyond. His delicate washes and masterful color transitions—pale rose and gold in the drifting clouds, soft greens in the foliage, and muted blue-grays in the distant mountains—reflect his refined command of the watercolor medium. The composition conveys the quietude of early morning or late afternoon light in the high country, capturing a timeless sense of place that has long inspired artists of the Lake Tahoe region. Historical Significance Lorenzo Palmer Latimer (1857–1941) was a foundational figure in early 20th-century California plein air painting, especially known for his evocative watercolors of Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Nevada, and Northern California landscapes. He taught at the San Francisco Mechanics’ Institute and later founded the Latimer Art Club in Reno (1921), shaping an entire generation of regional artists. His deep connection to Fallen Leaf Lake is well-documented—he first painted there in 1914 and led annual summer workshops at the site, drawn by its pristine beauty and the opportunity to work directly from nature. Today, Latimer’s mastery is celebrated in the beautifully illustrated book The Latimer School: Lorenzo Latimer...

Acquired by a private collector, Palo Alto, San Carlos and Oceanside, California, from Bingham Gallery in the Fairmont Hotel, San Jose, California; By descent to a private collector,...

Provenance: Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist Signed "McVicker" on lower right Unframed: 16" x 12"; Framed:18.5" x 22.5" x 1"

Robert Azensky is pleased to offer vivid mid century Original Oil painting of High Sierra Lake and Mountains A beautiful California landscape of the High Sierra mountains by Joseph ...

Gorgeous landscape of Sierra Mountains and lake in autumn by Oliver Glen Barrett (American, 1903 - 1970), circa 1940. Signed lower right corner; ti...

Idyllic landscape of a scenic lake view with an evergreen forest and picturesque purple mountains in the background by an unknown artist. Unsigned. Displayed in a period rustic wood ...

Bold mid century impasto landscape of Mt. Rose in oil by Nancy Coe (American, 1932-1998), c.1968. This piece has evocative, heavy textures from the artist's use of a palette knife. Signed in pen in the lower right corner. Gallery sticker on back of frame. Presented in a copper-colored frame. Image size: 27.25"H x 28.38"W Nancy Patricia Coe (American, 1932-1998), was born in San Jose, California to Henry Surtcliff Coe and spent most of her life on Rancho San Felipe in a two-story, brick colonial residence, originally built by her father, on a commercial cattle ranch. With its weeping willow trees and picturesque red barn, it made for a happy home nestled in the heart of San Felipe Valley. Henry Coe State Park is named after her Grandfather Henry Willard Coe. She studied art at Stanford University and graduated in the 1950's. While there, she met S. Gainer Pillsbury, MD, a fellow alumnus, whom she married on June 19, 1956. While an accomplished user of charcoals and Conte crayons, Ms. Coe painted in primarily in oils, showing and winning awards in Reno, Nevada in the early 1960's. Her works, including landscapes and portraits, have been featured in numerous newspaper articles in the Reno Gazette-Journal. Her palette-knife painting of Salvador and Virginia Prado, two ranch hands, was featured on the cover of a Mexican-American history textbook, A Guide to the Study of the Mexican-American by Feliciano Rivera (1969) and published at San Jose State University. Her paintings of Sada S. Coe (her aunt) and Henry “Harry” W. Coe, Jr. are featured in the museum at Henry Coe State Park in Morgan Hill...