Posted 13 years ago
emersonest…
(123 items)
I have this western piece of art, it looks like watercolors or acrylic. It is signed J. CAW in pencil in the lower right. I have found some information about a Sir James Caw but the date does not correspond to that artist. The style of the painting looks like WILLIAM MCTAGGART or Sir James Guthrie. I have seen some references of J.L. CAW, James Lewis Caw, reference these artist. I am not sure if this is a reproduction of a famous piece of art. Any information is greatly appreciated.
The strokes are visible. I think it is watercolor on paper/card stock. It is not on canvas.
Also, it measures about 18" wide by 15" tall.
I think it may just paint strokes of grass but thanks for the insight.
Is there something that makes you think it is "Western". If I were guessing, and I am, I would say it's got a Scottish feel. Looks like a plaid material on the upper torso of the sheppard, the sheep dog looks like a Collie. Is it my imagination or is that a steam powered vessel in the far distance? That could be correct for the date.
I just assumed it was western by the colors, but now that I look at it; It does look like it could be Scotland. Those are sheep in the background and that is a chimney smoke stack coming from a ship.
Sounds like its time for a professional appraisal. It's a beautiful watercolor!
I believe this is by James Caw (1813-1891), not a direct relation that I have been able to trace so far of Sir James L Caw. The Caws are a long-established Perth family (including various Lord Provosts) and tended to marry well. James Caw set up early as a portrait artist in (successively) Renfrewshire, Argyllshire, Fife and Bute. See the family tree for Alexander 'Greek' Thomson on http://www.ancestry.com, which includes him.
I have 2 large family portraits in watercolour signed very clearly in capital letters J. CAW 1867. The subjects (husband and wife, I think) look the same age as James Caw would have been in 1867, i.e. 54ish. Has anyone else seen this type of signature?
I notice the original question 6 years ago is about paintings signed J. CAW in capitals. The 1871 Scottish census has James Caw, artist, living at Kilmun, Argyll, aged 58. The 1861 Scottish census has John Broadfoot (aged 38) and his wife Alexis Broadfoot living at Blairmore - which is within walking distance of Kilmun. John and Alexis are great great grandparents to me on my mother's side. I am convinced that the portraits signed J. CAW 1867 must have been painted by James Caw (1813-1891).
I have a watercolour landscape of Campbeltown Loch by J. CAW, dated 1861, inherited from my paternal grandfather, whose mother came from Argyll.
I thought it was Uluhuru from the Olgas - Ayer's Rock from the Olga Mtns at first!