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Village Blacksmith, oil on canvas by J.H. Martin, Reno, c1890 - Reno, NV

Currency:USD Category:Western Americana Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 7,500.00 USD
Village Blacksmith, oil on canvas by J.H. Martin, Reno, c1890 - Reno, NV
Preview
Holabird-Kagin Americana Office
3555 Airway Drive Suite#309
Reno, NV 89511
Thursday Feb 20th, 10am-6pm
* Preview also available by appointment

Live Auction
Friday & Saturday
Feb 20 & 21, 2014
9am PDT starting time, both days

Location
Atlantis Casino & Resort
Paradise A Room
3800 S. Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89502

Lot Pick Up
Holabird-Kagin Americana Office
3555 Airway Drive Suite #309
Reno, NV 89511
Sunday February 23rd, 10am-1pm

Original oil on canvas, 30 x 42" framed. Wonderful dark blacksmith shop interior, showing wagon and horseshoe repair, typical of any western blacksmith shop of the period. J. Howard Martin, 1853-1919, was known as "the Prospector Painter" because of his many views of prospecting throughout Nevada. Martin studied in Europe with Carot, among others. He taught in denver, then moved to Reno, where he had a small studio gallery. He was described by some as old and crotchety. " At times, fortune smiled on him and he sold a large number of his paintings. The money thus obtained, he put into mines and finally lost." Martin shot himself in July, 1919, ending his misery and poverty. He died intestate, leaving 100 paintings he had kept as his favorites or were yet unsold. The State valued the collection at $5462, according to an article in the Reno Gazette (8/14/1919). Interestingly, the painting deemed most valuable at the time was this painting, the Village Blacksmith, valued aty $700. The paintings were auctioned by the State, and this paitning was probably purchaased by Reno banker Walter J. Harris. It was a treasured piece by the family, and when Walter's son Gordon Barnes Harris followed in his father's footsteps as a Reno banker, the paining hung prominantly in his office behind his desk. We were fortunate to sell a significant holding of Martin paintings from the J. LaVerne Lane Collection in 2002, though none wwere quite this spectacular. Gordon Harris Estate - HKA#66034