Folk Art, Still Life with Watermelon on
Ironstone Platter on White Cloth
Attributed to Daniel McDowell, Knox County,
Ohio, circa 1860-1880
Oil on canvas, dusting of mica on watermelons
(Frame: 27.75" x 21"; view: 23" x 16.25")
From an exhibition review by Tim Higgins of:
A Shared Legacy: Folk Art in America,
published in The Morning Call: "Watermelon
Wedges on a White Cloth" by Daniel
McDowell is one of the artist's two known
existing still lifes’. It portrays watermelon
slices, as realistically rendered as possible,
arranged on a lustrous white tablecloth. It's a
beautiful work, all the more astonishing as McDowell
wasn't known as an artist, but as a furniture maker.
This still life is shrouded with an air of stillness as the vivid, sharply delineated watermelon
slices emerge from a dark background. This, the third known version of the artist’s watermelon
still life is unsigned, it shares almost identical dimensions and composition to the masterpiece in
the Barbara Gordon Collection, exhibited and published in A Shared Legacy: Folk Art in
America (Art Services International, Skira Rizzoli Publishing, 2014, pp.136, 137, 138, 139).
McDowell earned his living as a maker and painter of furniture, which is evidenced in the
sculptural contours of the scalloped platter holding the watermelon in the second version, and
the tablecloth folds in both the Gordon and the current versions. The dots ornamenting the
tablecloth are placed with a precise and steady hand as are the neatly grouped watermelon
seeds embedded in the pink flesh. The tablecloth folds are rendered with cast shadows, a
sophisticated element not expected from a so-called primitive painter. The solidity of the cloth’s
folds recalls the carved wood drapery from horse drawn hearses of the period. The overlap of
the watermelon slices is done with exquisite precision yet the seeds lying on the tray and table
and the small watermelon rind display a random placement. McDowell demonstrates an
intriguing mix of formal painting ability with primitive/untrained qualities: the scalloped tray in the
non-Gordon painting tilts up rather than receding as does the tabletop in the two other versions,
showing the artist’s inability to use one-point perspective. Perhaps this, the simpler tray version
is earlier than the other two, which are so close in their composition and forms, as they show
only slight differences in seed placement, tablecloth folds, and proportions of solid forms to
space.
The composition has a striking modernist/abstract appearance, recalling the works of early
twentieth-century American artists who collected and/or were influenced by primitive/folk art, like
Charles Sheeler, Marsden Hartley, and Yasuo Kuniyoshi.
Condition: near original, no restoration or cleaning [as found] some minor lifting of canvas from
hardboard support at corner, layer of dirt/grime. The work is mounted within a period gilt frame;
canvas is mounted on early hardboard, likely in the 1920s. This painting was inspected by
paintings conservator Tom Yost in December 2019, he stated that because of the application of
“sparkle” (likely mica dust?) to the watermelon, it is not advisable to clean the painting as it
would result in either removal of that original application or if he cleaned around it, a difference
in color value between the watermelon and the rest of the painting. The painting displays well
as-is.
Call to Discuss
1292-1
Still Life with Fruit, Pastel on Paper,
American School, 19th Century
Signed "Painted by Selina M. Johnston"
Pastel on paper, 15 x 19”., in a molded gilt-gesso frame [likely original].
Overall condition is excellent, minor gesso losses to frame.
$2,275.00
879-114
Folk Art Still Life Paintings, pair,
Fruits, Cakes & Flowers
Anonymous, circa 1880-1900
Oil on pressboard
A buffet laden with deserts and flowers
(Frame: 24.25" x 29.25"; view: 21.5" x 26.5")
$2,875.00 the pair
928-112
Watercolor Theorem, Tilted Bowl, Fruits and Foliage, Strong Color
Anonymous, American, Circa 1835 - SOLD
Watercolor on paper (Period gilt frame measures: 23.25" x 19.25"; view: 15.5" x 19.5")
Fine condition, archivally framed.
SOLD
898-31
Antique Folk Art Still Life Painting, Fruits and Berries on Table
Found in The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, 19th Century
Anonymous
Oil on canvas (26.5" x 22.5" x 1”)
$7,600.00
1221-47
Still Life Painting,
Melons, Fruits, and Paper Sack, In the Circle of Helen Searle
American, third-quarter of 19th century, possibly Rochester, NY
Oil on canvas
Helen Searle (1830-1844) Born in Vermont, moved as a child, with family, to Rochester. NY [this painting came to us from Buffalo, NY]
(Very good condition, lined, one small area of fill; Period gilt frame and original stretcher;
(frame: 30.5 x 14” View: 21 x17”)
$1,950.00
659-157
19th Century Still Life, Fruits in Colorless Glass Bowl
Anonymous, circa 1870
Grapes, grape leaves and tendrils, pear, and a peach in a bowl resting on marble slab.
The work is mounted in a period gilt frame, we note a small puncture to paper at
frame…at top near center, else fine.
(Frame: 21.5" x 18.5"; view: 11" x 14.5")
$985.00
659-216
Folk Art Still Life Painting,
Watermelon and Fruits
Anonymous, American, Circa 1880-1900
Oil on academy board, label:
Favor & Ruhl, New York - SOLD
A bounty of melon and fruits on platter, bright colors.
Mounted within a period molded gilt frame.
(Frame: 22.25" x 28.25"; view: 23.25" x 17.25")
SOLD
659-215
Schoolgirl Watercolor on Velvet, Floral Theorem Within Gilt Frame
Anonymous, Early 19th Century
An unusually small rose and rosebud composition - SOLD
(Minor frame imperfection otherwise fine: frame: 7 by 6"; view: 5 by 4.25")
SOLD
640-62
Watercolor, Study of Seashells on Bed of Seaweed, Possibly by Mary Steele
New York, Late 1840s’
(Watercolor and Quash on paper within a period paint decorated frame; 14 by 18”)
$4,850
570-550
Antique Still Life Painting, Fruits, Oil on Artist Board
W.J. Brown, Ohio Folk Artist (Coal Miner)
1905
The work remains bright and untouched and is mounted within original gilt frame, the glass that protected has been removed. (Frame: 17.25 by 24"; view: 11.25 by 16")
$1,685
659-117
Still Life Painting, In the Style of the Old Dutch Masters, After Jan Brueghel the Elder, Vase of Flowers
Anonymous, 19th Century
Oil on Wood Ply Panel
(Minor fill limited to edges where frame rubbed panel; frame: 26 by 30", sight-size: 19 by 23.5")
$14,000
570-517
Theorem Painting, Folk Art, Still Life of Fruits in Compote
Possibly Maine, 19th Century
Ex Hazel Marcus, Peter Tillou
A fine stenciled and hand painted, and stenciled, well balanced effort featuring fruits and foliage within opaque compote on table. The work remains in brilliant color and is mounted within a 19th century painted frame, ornamented with bronze and silver powder stenciling. (Frame: 15.25 by 19.25"; view: 10.5 by 14.5")
$12,250
570-446
Theorem, Watercolor on Silk, Fruits and Flowers in Basket
Anonymous
New England
Early 19th Century
An elegant example with butterfly; mounted in period carved and gilt frame
(Very good condition, one minor stain at lower left; Frame: 19.75 by 16.25"; view: 15.5 by 13")
$7,200
570-283
Still Life Painting, Basket of Cabbage and Tomatoes, American School
Signed G.V. Strauss, Around 1899
Oil on canvas on academy board
A G.V. Strauss (Gibson, Illinois) is listed in the Semi-Annual Exhibition by the Art Students League of Chicago Catalog (at the Art Institute), several other internet listings may be found. (Excellent condition; frame: 27.75 by 20.5"; view: 15.25 by 22.5")
$2,875
1125-3
Theorem, Oil on Velvet, Period Gilt Frame
American, 2nd Quarter 19th C.
A simple floral theorem in muted colors.
Note: minor stain in the bottom right corner.
(Frame: 13.5 by 11.25"; view: 11.5 by 9.25")
$535
1032-21
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