Featured 1899 J.G. Soper Landscape Watercolor Painting

I purchased this watercolor painting at our local American Cancer Society thrift store. I thought it was an interesting find and had good documentation. I assume that it is by James Hamlin Gardner Soper. I was able to find a few examples of his paintings and drawings. I was hoping someone could sort out the writing on the label, does the word after the name in the middle say "cousin"? I would like to find a good signature example, similar to mine, too. Sorry about the reflections and yes, I am still using an old school digital camera.

 

Nice! in the 1920 Census his occupation is given as "Artist, Portrait." Living in NYC at them time. Born in Michigan, 1879.

 

'Painted by Jim Soper
a portrait artist (NY)
M.J. Coles cousin
(A wedding gift.) 1899.'

 

Does look like cousin. But I would have thought the word ‘cousin’ would be in brackets?

 

In that case the entire line should be in brackets. I think they thought it important information.

 

Jim Soper died in 1939 in southern California (1930 Census living in Beverly Hills) and since the ACS "Discovery Shops" that I've heard most about (besides the one I volunteer at) are in California, I assume the Coles in question lived there.

 

I see what you mean. Maybe it says M.J. Coles' cousin, but the ' is not visible in the photo. At least not to me.

 

It's there.

 

Thanks. He dots his i's very high, so that is very high too. I thought that was just a spot in the paper.

 

My store is in Kalamazoo, MI.

 

Well, I did not know there any outside the western states!

Have not found the Coles connection yet.

 

Thanks. Understood

 

A bit more info on him from familysearch.org (a Michigan connection):

 

So an early work. (He would have been 20 and still in Michigan.)

Debora

 

I found a number of sites that listed different birth years ranging from 1877-79, so I did some digging. I found his family in the 1900 census, they had moved from Flint to Detroit. The census was done in June 1900 and it lists his age as 23, Birthdate July of 1876 and his occupation as artist.

 

I believe it shows, " Cole's " with an apostrophe S.

 

Can't help but just wanted to say it's a nice painting

 

Thanks for all of the help and comments.

 

A brief bio. of Soper can be found on this askArt page, citing a reference book, Artists in California --
https://www.askart.com/artist/James_Hamlin_Gardner_Soper/100119/James_Hamlin_Gardner_Soper.aspx

 

Wow. Suicide