Ralph E. Anderson “San Francisco Still Life”, Trompe-l’Oeil Oil Painting, 1967

A 1920s floral still life impressionist oil painting on canvas on board by important New Orleans artist Alberta Kinsey (b. 1875–1952). Densely arranged berry-hued bouquet with white clusters and yellow accents explodes out of a silver pitcher. Arrangement accompanied by a small cobalt blue vase to the side, and set upon a salmon and white floral tablecloth...

A 1980 oil glazes over acrylic polymer on canvas trompe l’oeil contemporary realism painting titled “Composition in Three Tones” by notable Los Angeles-based artist, professor, and designer Don Paglia. Extremely realistic yet deceptively unassuming depiction of a rustic and weathered grey wood door reveals impressive touches, textures, and techniques the longer and closer one looks. Narrow black gap between door and frame offers a glimpse at the canvas upon which a thin layer of acrylic polymer has been applied to simulate the look and feel of real wood grain. Finished with glossy oil paint glazes that provide color, shading, and highlights to the wood, doorknob, and other delightfully discoverable details such as exposed nail heads. While the artist’s keen eye, skillful technique, and inventive use of media look great when seen from straight on, they become even more impressive when viewed obliquely and one can appreciate his meticulous recreation of naturally textured materials. Paglia’s distinctive logotype-like signature and date ("'80") is at lower right. Verso with title, media, and name written on canvas, as well as two paper tags from a previous unknown gallery describing the same. In original varnished dark brown wood frame. Dimensions listed are overall; art is H 24.5 in. x W 17.88 in. The following incredibly interesting and impressive artist’s bio is taken from the website of TAG (The Artists Gallery) in Los Angeles, who represents Don Paglia and offers many more of his paintings and sculptural works: “Los Angeles native Don Paglia is currently Emeritus Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the UCLA School of Medicine. He served as Fulbright Senior Research Scholar in Sub-Saharan Africa and continues to conduct research on medical problems threatening rhinoceroses and other exotic wildlife. Initially a self-taught artist, he received formal training in multiple media under the singular influences of UCLA’s Joe Blaustein and Jan Stussy. He was appointed to the NASA Art Program to document the 1983-84 mission of space shuttle Columbia. His paintings, drawings and sculptures have been exhibited regionally and nationally and have received eleven Best-of-Show awards. They have been included in exhibitions at the Smithsonian and Los Angeles Air & Space Museums, Kennedy Space Center...

A poignant 1960s oil painting on canvas depicting a young boy on a stationary carousel by important mid-century American artist Herbert Laurence Davidson (b. 1930–2018). A characteristically sensitive portrait by the artist, with his subject's red-eyed expression and dejected body language suggesting that there would be no more rides that day. With a well-earned reputation as a skilled American Realist, the short, finely hashed brushstroke technique that Davidson employs to achieve a detailed, luminous effect is all the more impressive upon closer examination. Signed "Herbert Davidson...

A signed late 1970s/early 1980s large abstract impressionist cityscape oil painting on board titled “Near the Zócalo”, by American artist Margaret Smith. The Zócalo is the common na...

A large and captivating 1980s framed fauvist oil on canvas portrait painting of jazz great Joe “King” Oliver by San Francisco-born artist Ed Ceseña (b. 1928)...

An exquisitely detailed and evocative 1883 neoclassical oil painting on canvas by English-American artist George Vaughan Curtis depicting a s...

Trompe-l'oeil style still life oil painting on burlap with a pleasing monotone palette and a classical mediterranean composition. Featuring a contrived weathered background and gold ...

Vintage (20th Century) trompe l'oeil still life featuring all facets of correspondence – hand-written notes and letters, wax-sealed envelopes, and a feather quill – held to a woo...

Vintage (20th Century) trompe l'oeil still life featuring all facets of correspondence – hand-written notes and letters, wax-sealed envelopes, and a feather quill – held to a woo...

A stunning trompe l'oeil (fool the eye) mid 20th century Italian oil painting by artist Alfano Dardari. This work depicts a beautiful flower in a vase with a perfect little droplet of water resting ever so gently on a petal. The flower in the vase sits atop a shelf upon which a gorgeous butterfly has alighted. Also on the shelf is a gold watch. And do you see a thread through all of this? I do. Mind you, it's my opinion but I'll happily share it with you. Memento Mori. Instead of defining it for you, I'll offer this description from the Tate in London: "Memento mori is a Latin phrase meaning ‘remember you must die’. A basic memento mori painting would be a portrait with a skull but other symbols commonly found are hour glasses or clocks, extinguished or guttering candles, fruit, and flowers. Closely related to the memento mori picture is the vanitas still life. In addition to the symbols of mortality these may include other symbols such as musical instruments, wine and books to remind us explicitly of the vanity (in the sense of worthlessness) of worldly pleasures and goods. The term originally comes from the opening lines of the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible: ‘Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity...

French Trompe L’oeil painting, Frederic Chopin Musical Theme Incredibly detailed illusionistic painting of a collection of music paraphernalia relat...

A stunning trompe l'oeil (fool the eye) mid 20th century Italian oil painting by artist Alfano Dardari. This work depicts the after effects of a late night. Gambling. Drinking. Smoking. Vice. And do you see a thread through all of this? I do. Mind you, it's my opinion but I'll happily share it with you. Memento Mori. Instead of defining it for you, I'll offer this description from the Tate in London: "Memento mori is a Latin phrase meaning ‘remember you must die’. A basic memento mori painting would be a portrait with a skull but other symbols commonly found are hour glasses or clocks, extinguished or guttering candles, fruit, and flowers. Closely related to the memento mori picture is the vanitas still life. In addition to the symbols of mortality these may include other symbols such as musical instruments, wine and books to remind us explicitly of the vanity (in the sense of worthlessness) of worldly pleasures and goods. The term originally comes from the opening lines of the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible: ‘Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity...