Featured Coastal Watercolor

Any thoughts on the location of this scene? The family did live in the Pacific Northwest but I’m getting an East coast vibe.
Also, help with the wispy signature would be appreciated!
Thank You!

 

We're seeing M. S. Morrow. 1906.

 

The house looks like Japanese... If it is in Pacific Northwest, it could be on San Pablo Bay or even along Sacramento Delta (why you're seeing land across the way). There are lots of abandoned Japanese fisheries all along the Northwest.

 

BaseballGames got the siggy right, I'd say!!

 

Since it looks like Japan, it's more than likely that the location is Japan.

Debora

 

ooh, an early find in the 1910 census of a Mary S Morrow, born in 1854, living in Sonoma, California. Occupation: Artist.

Obviously, more research to be done, but a nice hit.

 

From http://www.askart.com/artist/Mary_S_Morrow/11193627/Mary_S_Morrow.aspx

Mary S. Morrow was born in Missouri in 1854. By 1880 Morrow had settled in Santa Rosa and was a dressmaker. After studying for several years with Tilden Daken, she painted landscapes of the area around her home and beach scenes with sand dunes.

A spinster, she died in Santa Rosa, CA on March 13, 1918

 

Wow!! Nice work!! Thank You!!!

 

If this artist studied with Tilden Daken, this painting would fit his school well. He was known for painting around the world, so it's conceivable she did too - Japan - I guess?

I'm not stating the following as fact that this was painted in Pacific Northwest, this is simply an impression of the history of my state and where I grew up, and what Morrow might have seen in her travels.

If it does happen to be what it suggests to me, it would be valuable to Japanese museums, as well any kind of early California watercolor or impressionist collectors.

Morrow's landscape of the painting fits San Pablo Bay, Vallejo, Tomales Bay or any other bay around where she lived, which all have rich Asian history. It's possible a 1900 immigrant was successful enough to build his own home, or a compound for workers in any one of those places.

This is where Morrow lived - lotta landlocked water there.



Japanese fisheries and farmers also migrated to Southern California - Whitepoint (below), in San Pedro, was an abalone concern starting 1901 to 1910, right down the end of my street.




An aside: While working in Richmond, I drove past an half-submerged abandoned Japanese fishery in San Pablo Bay every day.

REALLY hope someone finds something of hers! I haven't...

I didn't connect results for MS Morrow on findartinfo.com earlier because of the order of the names. This person had a similar birthdate, but much longer life span. It's possible the death was a typo, but the three oils shown are floral still lifes, so does not seem to be her.

Mary Morrow Murtland Scully

Born 1853
Died 1932

 

Understatement:

This is an excellent painting, either way.

 

EXCELLENT!

 

@Shwikman

is there anything to be revealed by the back of the painting or frame?

 

I’m not currently with it but I don’t recall seeing anything..it may have been papered over. I will investigate further when I see it again in a week or so.

Do you see a boey in the water in the background?

 

You should make an attempt to look at and photograph the back of the painting. No, I don't see a bouy.

 

Will do. I’ll update with any additional photos/information as it comes.
I really appreciate the information, knowledge and opinions.

 

WOWZERS.

Where is that? (other than the exact place in the painting)

 

Japanese Tea House, Pacific Grove CA. Photo taken 1907.

 

Nice find!

BTW, I spoke with one of Mary Sue Morrow's relatives. He confirmed the details of her life, but unfortunately, he has not seen any of her original art.

 

Awesome! Thank you for that!