September 29, 2021 The Bill Myers Collection
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/29/2021
This watercolor is featured on page 29 of "The Kentucky Rifle Hunting Pouch" by Madison Grant. Watercolor on paper measures 25 1/2” x 21 1/4” in frame. Signed at center, bottom: “Drawn and Painted by William Philips of Philada in the year 1800”. Not many of these naïve, signed early American paintings on paper have survived. This example is a primitive/folk art painting of two hunters shooting at squirrels with their hounds. The hunters are the obvious center of interest and are executed in detail with their longarms and accouterments. This expansive landscape also includes images of a farmer and his team plowing in front of their homestead fences, while birds fly overhead. Watercolor is surrounded by what appears to be a gold foil ribbon. Painting is mounted in a softwood, tongue and groove, period frame with a nicely crazed, faux mahogany original surface. CONDITION: Painting is stable with a nicely disguised 3/8” small hole on right side. Several light tears and some minor edge damage also appear on right edge. Light moisture stains across top and spotting in right corner. A 2 1/2” tear above fork in the road. Light crease lines throughout. PROVENANCE: Ex. Madison Grant Collection. DRG