Frederick Ferdinand Schafer Painting Catalog

Problematic painting record FFSp0709


[photo] [Mountain landscape with waterfall 2]

Medium: oil on canvas
Size: 22 x 36 in (56 x 92 cm)
Inscription: l/r "F. Schafer", in an unfamiliar hand, partially underlined
Verso: none reported
Provenance: With Douglas Auctioneers, Deerfield, Massachusetts, 28 February 2003. Offered 13 September 2003 by Michaan's Auctions by the Bay, Inc., San Francisco, as lot 423 (simultaneously offered via eBay).
Reproductions: Michaan's Auctions by the Bay, Inc. 13 September 2003 sale catalog.
Attribution: The signature is decidedly non-standard, with the cursive "F", "S", "c", and "a". The style of the painting is also unusual. It is uniformly bright; there is no clutter whatever; the trees appear perfectly symmetric. The entire scene is romantically perfect. In addition, the palette of colors includes very few dark, saturated tones that usually dominate Schafer's work. None of these characteristics are typical of Schafer.
Site: Some parts of the painting bear a resemblence to Yosemite Valley, but no specific landmarks are evident.
Note: A condition report from the Michaan's Auctions by the Bay, Inc. sale says, "In fair to good condition, a 5 x 4 1/4 inch patch on verso corresponding to a repair with extensive inpainting in the upper center mountains. The 3rd foreground rock from left appears to have added paint for texture. Paint is dry with craquelure throughout. Stretcher bar creases visible, surface is soiled."
Legend: Said to come from a California estate.
Identification: Assigned, descriptive title. The 28 February 2003 auction listing simply identifies it as "Landscape", gives the artist's name as "F. Schefer", and the size as 21.5 x 35.5 inches, probably the sight size. Photographs of both the painting and the signature from the two auction sales are identical. The Michaan's Auctions by the Bay, Inc. sale used the alternate title.
Other title(s): [Yosemite mountain landscape with waterfall]
In index(es): unidentified mountain scenes, questioned attributions

Title list
Other lists
Help About the Artist Copyright Notice Schafer Catalog Home Page
Comments, corrections, or questions: Saltzer@mit.edu
Mar 10, 2024, 11:47 MDT Accessibility