Robert Decker

Old Maples on Lake George N.Y.

Signed and dated 1877. Mortimer Smith, a lesser-known yet skilled artist of the Hudson River School, captured the untamed beauty of the American landscape with remarkable depth. This painting presents a seacoast scene with a solitary fisherman, with his boat during the tide. The rugged cliffs frame the composition, their weathered surfaces telling the story of time and nature’s relentless forces. Sunlight filters through the mist, casting a halo glow in the sky, while waves crash against the shore in rhythmic motion. Smith’s brushwork conveys both the serenity and power of the natural world, inviting the viewer to step into the scene under nature's power and beauty. Although born in Jamestown, New York, Mortimer Smith would become well-known as a Detroit architect and artist by the end of the nineteenth century. Little is known of Smith's earlier years; however, scholars speculate that he studied in Oberlin and Sandusky, Ohio before moving to Detroit in 1855. There, the artist flourished and became famous for his crisp landscapes of local scenery, including his beloved winter scenes. In addition to his artistic career, Smith founded a successful architectural firm by the name of Smith, Hynchman and Grylls; Smith's reputation in the visual arts was often overshadowed by his draftsmanship as an architect. Nevertheless, he was a vital force in Detroit's arts community exhibiting his works in venues including the Detroit Art...

Signed lower right. An itinerant portrait, miniature, and landscape painter, Ambrose Andrews had a wide-ranging career geographically that saw him in many regions including New York (1829-31), Connecticut (1837), Texas (1837-1841) and Louisiana (1841-42). After 1844, he was active in St. Louis, New York City, Buffalo, New York, Vermont and Canada. He was born in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and in 1824, attended the National Academy of Design. Andrews exhibited paintings at the Republic of Texas Capitol...

Signed lower right. A landscape and marine painter, William Ongley was born in England in 1836 and came to America with his family and settled in New York. His art studies took him ...

Edward Moran (American, 1829 - 1901) Boy with Dog on Dock Oil on canvas Signed lower left 22 x 36 inches Provenance: Sotheby's Sale no. 3255 Oct. 27-28, 1977 Page 58 Price on reques...

James Brade Sword Mending the Nets at Sunset Signed lower left Oil on canvas 12 x 20 inches James Brade Sword was born in Philadelphia, but from aro...

George Henry Smillie Coastal Scene Signed lower right Oil on canvas 20 x 30 inches Provenance Collection of Sylvia and Saverio Giammalva, Houston, Texas The career of George Smill...

George Henry Smillie East Hampton, New York, 1884 Signed lower left Dated lower right Oil on canvas 15 x 24 inches Provenance Cigna Museum and Art Collection Questroyal Fine Art T...

Antique Quintessential American Hudson River School landscape by an unknown Hudson River School artist. This painting features its original period gold frame, and a charming scene o...