20 Winter Street
Pembroke, MA 02359
United States
Founded in 2005, Copley Fine Art Auctions is a boutique auction house specializing in antique decoys and American, sporting, and wildlife paintings. Over the course of the last two decades, the firm has set auction records for not only individual decoy makers, but also entire carving regions. Copley...Read more
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Jul 11, 2024
A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952)
Cape Cod Summer Shorebirds, 1949
signed "A.E. Crowell" lower right
oil on board, 16 by 20 in.
While this painting has been known through a small black and white image in a Bourne Auction catalog, now is the first time its color and important details have come to light. This is a relatively large scene for the artist and it appears to be his brightest and most lively painting. An old label on the back relays that this image depicts an Eskimo curlew, two Hudsonian curlews, Wilson's terns, and a preening herring gull. Three other types of birds can be seen in the background, with a flock in the air, and another in the water, and one lone curlew on a point.
The label also indicates specifics relating to the Eskimo curlew, when the work was painted, and when it was acquired from Crowell.
The back also retains a clipped newspaper obituary for Mr. Crowell.
Provenance: Collection of the artist
Private Collection, acquired from the maker, November 6, 1951
Evelyn Thayer Chace Collection
Private Collection, by descent from the above
Literature: Richard A. Bourne Co., Inc., "Public Auction of Rare American Decoys, Bird Carvings, Miniatures, and Related Items," Hyannis, MA, 1969, lot 307, exact painting illustrated.
Please email condition report requests to leah@copleyart.com.
Shipping info
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