Pair of Watercolor Paintings in the style of Pompeian Wall or Ceiling Decoration

American intra-war artist and illustrator Porter Woodruff (1894-1959). Arabian Horse scene, oil and gold leaf on board with chalky gouache. Signed Woodruff on lower right of painting. Signature somewhat obscured by frame. His Art Deco-influenced paintings are highly decorative and appealing, the compositions complex and well-thought out. The gold leaf background is decorative and elegant. His are rare Modernist paintings by an artist who found himself at the very heart of design, fashion and celebrity life in the early part of the century. Label at back for Pitt & Scott Ltd London - well known for its expertise in handling antiques, works of art and fragile artefacts. Dimensions: 11.5"h x 15.5"w (sight) 12.5"h x 17.5"w (frame) Porter Woodruff, was an illustrator artist and contributor to Vogue Magazine and Home & Garden (including covers for both). He was one of five artists stationed in Paris in 1923 for Vogue. Woodruff spent considerable time in Tunisia, North Africa, residing with his romantic partner, Romanian socialite George Sebastian. Sebastian owned a lavish, coastal property in then-trendy Hammamet, near Tunis on the Mediterranean. Sebastian fell in love with the simple beauty of the quiet fishing port of Hammamet and was the first of the international set of the times to build his villa there. He started a trend that has never ceased. Frank Lloyd Wright is said to have claimed Dar Sebastian to be ”the most beautiful house I have ever seen”. American and European intelligentsia and upper-crust were attracted to the area between the wars. The artists Cocteau, Elsa Schiaparelli, Paul Klee, Andre Gide, the Sitwells, and Cecil Beaton enjoyed visiting, partying, and undertaking what someone once described as indulging the opportunity to do 'some rather elaborate sinning'. Other visitors included Art Deco designer Jean-Michel Frank, Wallis Simpson, Somerset Maugham, and Greta Garbo, among others. The onset of war disrupted this scene and it never truly regained its former glory. Dar Sebastian was requisitioned by the 'Desert Fox', German General, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel...

American School (20th c.), Interior scene, watercolor on paper, signed and dated "Wisner, '81" lower right. A charming, colorful and detailed representation of a beautiful room-scape. It makes me want to grab a good book and snuggle up by the fire. The framing is by The House of Heydenryk...

Manner of William Adolphus Knell (British 1805-1875). Framed maritime oil on canvas. Three-masted square rigger in background, with fishing vess...

Manner of George Chinnery (English, 1774-1852), a softly rendered portrait of a young woman, unsigned, in carved and gilded wood frame A remnant "...R. Davy, Colourman to Artists, 83, Newman Street, London" label on verso. Christie's inventory tags also on verso. A little gem of a portrait, this painting also contains lovely details such as a flower adorning the young woman's hair, a pink shawl draped on the chair, and an ornate gilt mirror with candelabra visible in the background. Robert Davy (c.1771-1843) established his business in the 1790s. He began his career as a carver and gilder...

John Haanstra (Dutch, b. 1940), signed and dated 1985 on lower right. A charming oil painting, showing a winter landscape. Skaters are enjoying seasonal fun on a frozen canal while others go about their daily activities. A typical Dutch windmill can be seen in the background. Typical Dutch style housing can be seen in the foreground. The sky seems to be laden with more snow, creating the sense of more winter fun...

Antique German architecture print on heavy paper showing an illustration of a portion of a ceiling painting in the Uffizi Gallery, Florence, 16th centur...

Watercolor painting depicting lovers in the woods signed A. Buzzi. Archille Buzzi is a well listed artist who lived in Italy in the late 19th century. This wonderful watercolor has v...

An Italian pair of stretched canvas paintings from the 19th century. These antique wall decorations from Italy each have painted canvas stretched over an arch-shaped wood frame, nearly 4 feet in width. The paintings are Neoclassical in design featuring an urn with flame at center, symmetrically framed within an abundant display of scrolling acanthus leaves. A gold tone ribbon fabric with nail-heads outlines the outer edges of each framed piece. These 19th century Italian Neoclassic arched wall ornaments would add the grandeur of height hanging above a pair of window or door casings...

A pair of French reverse glass paintings or cartoons, each of oval form, one depicting a man with a mass of hair or full wig using a brush to fence with a woman wielding a broom, the...

A fine pair of Papiers peints 'En Grisaille' from the psyche´ series manufactured by Dufour, Paris, after designs by Merry-Joseph Blondel and Louis Lafitte. -'Psyche´ about to stab ...

An original pair of watercolors by Alice Magnolia Lacey, circa last quarter 20th century. Each painting features a goose in stride on a stone walkway with flowers. Signed along the r...

A pair of Art Nouveau watercolor paintings with nudes in original frames. By A. Crommen, 1918. Material: Watercolor on paper. Original glass and frame. Origin: Belgium. Size...