Neal Auction 2012

W denotes the lot is illustrated at www.nealauction.com 69 283. English School, early 20th c ., “At the Inn: Waiting for a Carriage”, 1902, oil on canvas, signed “P. Mich” and dated lower left, an R.G. Reichert Fine Arts/ Peoria, IL stamp and a 1941 American Union Made stamp en verso of frame, 20 in. x 29 3/4 in., framed. $1500/2500 284. Dedrick Brandes Stuber (California, 1878-1954) , “Trees in Twilight”, oil on board, signed lower right, 20 in. x 24 in., framed. $1800/2500 285. Robert Lewis Reid (American, 1862- 1929) , “Portrait of Elise Mason Smith, later Mrs. Harry Turner Howard, Jr. (1896-1990)”, 1921, oil on canvas, signed and dated upper left, 36 in. x 24 in., framed. $5000/7000 Provenance: Succession of Harry T. Howard III, New Orleans, LA. Exhibited: Isaac Delgado Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA, “The Twenty-First Annual Exhibition”, March 4th-April 1st, 1922, catalogue no. 27. Note: Impressionist painter Robert Reid was a founding member of the Ten American Painters. His work from the late 1890s and into the 20th century often depicts idealized young women set in landscapes holding flowers. In 1920 Reid moved to Colorado Springs where he joined the faculty of Broadmoor Academy and taught until 1927. During these years he concentrated more on portraiture, creating what he called “portrait impressions” by quickly painting essential forms and features in broad, vigorous brush strokes. The portrait of Elise Mason Smith offered here is a fine example of this style. Reid depicts her very demurely, seated and holding a bouquet of columbines, a flower closely identified to Colorado. Elise Mason Smith was the daughter of William Mason Smith, the proprietor of the Mason Smith & Co. cotton firm, who also served as the president of the New Orleans Cotton Exchange in the early 1900s. The Mason Smith family resided at 4534 St. Charles Avenue, a Mediterranean-style villa designed by Frank Gravely in 1906. Elise, depicted here in 1921, reigned as queen of the Mistick Krewe of Comus in 1917 and was a founding member of the Junior League of New Orleans in 1924. In 1927, she married prominent New Orleanian Harry Turner Howard, Jr. 286. Randall Vernon Davey (American, 1887-1964) , “The Lavender Dress”, oil on panel, signed and inscribed en verso, D. Wigmore Fine Art, Inc., New York, NY label en verso, 6 in. x 4 7/8 in., framed. $1200/1800 283 284 286 285