Rare California Artist Oil Painting

I picked these up a few minutes ago, so I haven't completed my research yet. From what I have found, the artist attended the San Francisco Institute of Art in 1911 and 1912. She is listed in a 1940 book about artist in California. However, I can't even find another reference to work by this artist. Artnet has the artist listed but doesn't have any past or upcoming lots. I was shocked to find these. The portrait was wrapped in the brown paper. I'm assuming both were bought from the artist and the rainbow winged angel was framed at a later date. Any thoughts as to age or value is appreciated. Also, I would like to see any other piece of work by this artist. Thanks, Joe

They measure 16x20" each (not including the frame). The angel is behind glass so the photo doesn't serve much justice.

 

How do you know that the one about whom you found information is the same as the one who painted these? It could be, but just curious. The first one says it is acrylic paint. According to an article in Wikipedia, acrylic paint was first sold commercially in the 1950s.

Although it could be the same person, as I do web searches of the name Katherine DeSio I am finding more than one person with that name.

 

I'm sure the vast majority of people on the planet share their name with someone else. Show me another artist named Katherine DeSio. The name isn't common. Also, according to wikipedia acrylic paint was hand mixed as early as the 19th century. I'm sure this technique would've been taught at Art Institute.

 

This could be a self portrait. Isn't DeSio a Spanish name. The woman in the painting appears to be Spanish too.

 

A quick search tells me it is primarily an Italian name.

Both look like art student or amateur work to me, frankly not very well done. I'm thinking the value is pretty close to what someone would pay for the frames.

Did u get a verdict on the artist who did the cows crossing the arched bridge? That one imho was infinitely better than either of these things.

 

I respect the idea that you really want these to be rare expensive works of art, but until more facts show up to prove or disprove ........????

 

I don't need to show you another artist named Katherine DeSio. I'm not trying to prove that there was another artist with that name. My point was that there is no evidence so far to connect these paintings with the only person by that name who is known to have been an artist. I'm not trying to prove that they were done by anybody different. She could have been very young in 1912 and have lived into her 90s. In that case, the acrylic paint thing would be easily explained.

I also was trying to indicate that the only evidence found so far about the artist's life predates the 1950s when acrylic paint became commercially available. It's possible to theorize that Katherine DeSio could have done that earlier, but there is no evidence that she did. As I mentioned above, she also could have painted, say, into the 1970s and then the acrylic paint would have been very commonly used.

Having done a lot of genealogical research, I've learned to never easily accept that two people with the same name are the same person. If evidence is available, it will come to light. Sometimes it takes deeper detective work. I wish you well with these paintings.

 

I apologize for the previous message, it kind came out wrong. I don't really have any expectations for value as I paid next to nothing for them. The family I purchased them from had no clue who the artist was, so I'm assuming their provenance has been lost for some time. I'll take the back off of the framed one to look for more information.

 

Even if the paintings were the work of the Katherine DeSio listed in the book, not being able to find other info about her means her work wasn't commercially successful.

Unfortunately, this means you'll probably find there isn't much of a market for her paintings.

 

It's no problem. I think my original message came through poorly, so we are even.

 

When I took it out of the frame, I found a signature on the front. It is signed Kathryn DeSio and dated 8/12/96 (1996 - I'm sure). Whoever made the label spelled misspelled the name, and this is not the artist I thought it was.

 

I'm glad there was a signature so you know for sure who the artist is.

 

Update us on the cows-crossing-stone-bridge painting when u have more info pls.

 

While I can find at least a couple of contemporary people with that name, I haven't seen anything related to painting or art.