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"VENETIAN CANAL" PAINTING BY WARREN SHEPHERD (AMERICAN, 1858-1937)
In oil on canvas, signed lower left "WARREN SHEPHERD"
Item # 807EJG21Q
An exquisite little scene that captures a summer day with a view of the canals from Rio del Giardini in Venice. A gondolier has pulled his boat up along the stone bank, perhaps pausing to collect a passenger from the descending steps. The terrace above is overflowing with trees and foliage intermingled with blooming flowers while a few gondolas in the distance congregate around a large home. The water shimmers with a reflection of the surroundings along the left and captures the pink of evening sky as it moves away from the boaters. Signed in blocked script lower left "WARREN SHEPHERD", the painting remains housed in a remarkably fine period frame.
Born in Greenwich, New Jersey in 1858, Warren Shepherd grew up surrounded by water. He was son to a ship captain and his passion for the sea would eventually lead him to become a racing yacht navigator and designer. He even published a book on the subject, "Practical Navigation", a work he illustrated and published in 1920 as an authoritative work used by the United States Naval Academy in their training. His art studies began at Cooper Union in New York, but ultimately he would study under the famous Dutch maritime artist Maurice de Haas. Warren spent a great deal of time abroad, spending four months in the Mediterranean during 1879 and a tour of Europe from 1888 through 1893, where his passion for Venetian scenes was born. He exhibited at the Brooklyn Art Association from 1874 to 1881, at the National Academy of Design from 1880 to 1899, at the 1884 Denver Exposition where he achieved a Gold medal, at the 1893 World Columbian Exposition and the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904.
Measurements: 26 7/8" H x 21" W x 2 3/4" D [frame]; 21 3/4" H x 16" W [canvas]
Condition Report:
Professionally cleaned and restored: inpainting upper left in sky, touch ups to lower left corner in shadow of water. Light craquelure throughout, stretcher impressions on upper edge. Frame with cracks and rubbing wear as expected.