Howard Pyle (Delaware/Pennsylvania, 1853-1911), "The Promenade and the Reverend," 1882, gouache on paperboard, signed and dated lower right, with a photocopy about the artist from the "Biographical Sketches of American Artists" attached en verso, presented in an ebonized frame, H.- 10 1/4 in., W.- 10 3/8 in., Framed H.- 16 1/4 in., W.- 16 1/4 in. Provenance: The Estate of noted Antiquarian Merrit M. Shilg (1908-1978), Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Condition is consistent with age. It looks like there is some surface dirt under the glass. No signs of tears or damage. Only two water spots on painting by the farm fencing. It could have happened during the time of artist painting or possibly after. There is one tiny speck of paint loss in the branches of the tree closets to figures. It looks like loose surface dirt is located on the pant leg of the reverend. The piece underwent some kind of water damage on the bottom because there is a water mark on the bottom of the mat and back cardboard. It’s likely that the actual painting did not get any water damage or at least minimal on the bottom border. We would need to take it apart to know for sure, but what is visible at this time does not show any water damage. The mat has yellowed from age and the frame shows some scratch marks. This is a very handsome example. ________________________________________________________________________________ ALL PROPERTY IS SOLD "AS IS." NO STATEMENT REGARDING CONDITION OF ANY ITEM, WHETHER IT IS MADE ORALLY AT THE AUCTION OR ANY OTHER TIME, OR IN WRITING IN THE CATALOGUE OR ELSEWHERE, SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A WARRANTY, REPRESENTATION, OR ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITY.