Robert E. Wood

Untitled (Boats with Flags)

c. 1957

Consigned to the gallery, Pasadena, California; By descent to a private collector, Encino, California; Acquired by a private collector, Palo Alto, San Carlos, and Oceanside, Californ...

Consigned to the gallery, Pasadena, California; By descent to a private collector, Encino, California; Acquired in 1998 by a private collector, San Carlos, Palo Alto, and Oceanside, California; From William A. Karges Fine Art, Carmel, California Signed "Jesse Arms Botke" on lower right Description This charming watercolor captures a sweeping view of Bodega Bay, California, rendered with the refined draftsmanship and decorative sensibility for which Jessie Arms Botke is renowned. While best known for her gilded avian compositions, Botke’s landscapes are comparatively rare and reveal a more personal side of her artistic vision. Here, the viewer peers over the distinctive red turret of a Victorian home toward the curving estuary, where land meets sea beneath a soft blue sky. Delicate washes and crisp detailing convey the texture of the shoreline, the undulating water, and the surrounding structures, evoking the calm yet lively spirit of a coastal fishing village in the early 20th century. The warm terracotta tones of the foreground architecture contrast beautifully with the cool blues of the water and the distant hills, creating a balanced, harmonious scene. Although no journal entry or record confirms a specific trip to Bodega Bay, Botke may have painted this work, circa 1906, during the period when she was offered a round-trip passage from the Atchison, Topeka Santa Fe Railway to travel from Chicago to Arizona and California in exchange for paintings depicting scenes of the West. The style and vantage point suggest direct observation, making it likely that she visited the town and painted the scene en plein air. With its architectural detail, vibrant palette, and compositional harmony, this work stands as a significant example of Botke’s lesser seen yet highly collectible works on paper. Jessie Arms Botke is recognized as one of the most important women artists in the early California art...

Provenance Consigned to the gallery, Pasadena, California; by descent to a private collector, Encino, California; acquired by a private collector, Palo Alto, San Carlos, and Oceanside, California. Signed "W L Judson" on lower right Description In this circa 1900 watercolor, William Lees Judson...

Consigned to the gallery, Pasadena, California; From a private collector, Encino, California, by descent; Acquired in 1997 by a private collector, Palo Alto, California; From Sean's Antiques, San Francisco, California. Signed "L.P. Latimer" on lower right Description This intimate watercolor captures Fallen Leaf Lake, a serene alpine lake in El Dorado County, California, situated just south of Lake Tahoe—an area celebrated each autumn for the Kokanee Salmon trail runs. Latimer invites the viewer onto a rocky slope, framed by stately evergreens, guiding the gaze across the lake’s glassy blue surface toward the snow-capped Sierra Nevada peaks beyond. His delicate washes and masterful color transitions—pale rose and gold in the drifting clouds, soft greens in the foliage, and muted blue-grays in the distant mountains—reflect his refined command of the watercolor medium. The composition conveys the quietude of early morning or late afternoon light in the high country, capturing a timeless sense of place that has long inspired artists of the Lake Tahoe region. Historical Significance Lorenzo Palmer Latimer (1857–1941) was a foundational figure in early 20th-century California plein air painting, especially known for his evocative watercolors of Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Nevada, and Northern California landscapes. He taught at the San Francisco Mechanics’ Institute and later founded the Latimer Art Club in Reno (1921), shaping an entire generation of regional artists. His deep connection to Fallen Leaf Lake is well-documented—he first painted there in 1914 and led annual summer workshops at the site, drawn by its pristine beauty and the opportunity to work directly from nature. Today, Latimer’s mastery is celebrated in the beautifully illustrated book The Latimer School: Lorenzo Latimer...