Alfred Farnsworth
Grazing Cows
circa 1899

Name: Grazing Cows
Brand: Alfred Farnsworth
Price: 850 USD
Availability: InStock

$850

About

Artist: Alfred Villiers Farnsworth – British/American (1858-1908) (Attributed) Title: Grazing Cows Year: circa 1890s Medium: Watercolor with oil and pastel Sight size: 11 x 18 inches. Framed size: 19.25 x 25.5 inches Signature: Unsigned, 1950s gallery label on reverse Condition: Very good Frame: Frame in good condition This moody, ethereal watercolor with oil and pastel has a Barbizon School feel to it. Farnsworth painted European and California scenes. This looks like one of his Marin County scenes, but I cannot tell where it is located. The painting is unsigned, but it has the Argonaut Book Shop label from the 1950s which is good provenance (the Argonaut Book Shop, an antiquarian bookstore has been a San Francisco institution since 1941, frequented by Alfred Hitchcock and inspiring the Argosy Bookstore in his film, Vertigo.) As important, the painting looks very much like the work of Alfred Farnsworth. The painting is in good condition on heavy watercolor paper. There is slight fading, only visible if one lifts the mat and looks at the lower edge. It is archivally matted and the mat is in very good condition. The very nice wood frame is in very good condition except for one blemish on the left bar where the silver has worn off. Please see the picture. More about Alfred Farnsworth: Watercolorist. Born in England near the border of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in 1858. Being from an upper class family, Farnsworth was well educated in England and later became a member of the British Royal Engineers. While studying civil engineering in Paris, he became interested in painting and may have had some instruction there. From Paris, he moved to Canada where his sketching ability was of great use while working as a railroad surveyor. He then lived for several years in Spokane, WA and, while there, married an English woman. Upon coming to San Francisco in 1892, Farnsworth gained employment as an artist for the Examiner and, while in that capacity, painted many luminous watercolors. He later moved across the bay to Marin County where he was a resident of San Anselmo, Stinson Beach, and San Rafael. He sometimes painted with Thad Welch and Louis Rea. His subject matter seldom varied from scenes of the San Francisco Bay area. From his brush came views of Mount Tamalpais and the Mann hills, the Golden Gate, Fort Point, and coastal scenes. Farnsworth also painted a series of highly detailed and colorful English hunting scenes which were very popular at the turn of the century and sold readily at Gumps. An alcoholic, he died on Sept. 17, 1908 at Adler's Sanitarium in San Francisco. Exh: Calif. Artists, Golden Gate Park Museum, 1915. In: San Jose Museum; De Young Museum; Mann Co. Historical Society; Civic Art Gallery of San Jose; Society of Calif. Pioneers; Oakland Museum; CHS. CSL; CHS; AAW: From Frontier to Fire. Source: Artists in California 1786-1940 by Edan Hughes

Details

Creator
Alfred Farnsworth (1858 - 1908, American, British)
Creation Year
circa 1899
Dimensions
Height: 19.25 in. (48.9 cm)Width: 25.5 in. (64.77 cm)Depth: 1 in. (2.54 cm)
Medium
Oil Pastel,Watercolor
Movement & Style
Barbizon School
Period
1890-1899
Condition
Very good condition. Please see description for a complete condition report.
Gallery Location
San Francisco, CA
Reference Number
Seller: PM06152020-21stDibs: LU66636324662
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Shipping & Returns

Shipping
$175 Standard Parcel Shipping
to United States 0, arrives in 4-5 weeks. We recommend this shipping type based on item size, type and fragility.
Ships From: San Francisco, CA
Return Policy
A return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.