OIL ON BOARD BY JAMES LEWY

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I recently purchased this oil on board signed James Lewy 1894. Can you tell me anything about the artist and what it may be worth?

Little is known about Lewy, but, I can tell you that he was born in Germany in 11/1848 - Immigrated to America in 1868 - Lived in New York in 1880 (Listed in Census as an artist/ painter) and Lived in Chicago in 1900. Not too surprisingly most of his auction results have been from auction houses in New York and the Chicago area. His works typically have brought in the mid-hundreds. Your work is typical of what has hit the market, a still life of fruit spilling from a basket or box and from the 1890's. I also saw a seascape and a couple barnyard scenes. 

I have a James Lewy landscape dated 1896. As you can see in the attached photo, there is a windmill in the center background. Could he have passed thru Pennsylvania Dutch country on his journey from New York to Chicago and spotted this scene.  Also any idea what it might be worth?  I know he did mainly still life, and a couple of landscapes with cows, and a seascape, and various sheep in barns and a horse or two, but I suspect not many landscapes. I would appreciate any reply you might have as to it worth. It is oil on board. 



There is not really a way of knowing if he spent any time in Pennsylvania with current info. Lewy is a lesser known artist who's travels do not appear to be documented. $500 seems to be the magic number for his works. A landscape of his did sell for $550 at a live auction in North Carolina. 




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