Cottage, Thimble Islands.

Watercolor by Frank H. Taylor, 1878.

Paper size 15 x 22 3/4" (38.4 x 57.8 cm). Overall framed size 22 3/4 x 31" (57.8 x 80.6 cm).

A collage of eight views and scenes in and around the Thimble Islands, Connecticut. Signed lower right in the lower central panel, "F.H. Taylor 78".

Framed in the original frame. 2 5/8" black & rubbed gold flat oak molding with four ornamental corner medallions. Original custom sanded gold mat with gold leaf edging. Most definitely the original custom made mat. Note on verso of piece says that it cost $25 in 1878. We hand cut a 2-ply, acid free rag mat to conform with the existing mat in order to keep the old mat off of the artwork. Backed with 4-ply acid free board. Glazed with tru-view museum glass.

Frank Taylor (1846-1927), was born in Rochester NY on April 21, 1846. In 1863 he joined the Rochester Grays Battery Light Artillery. He would later publish a book on the Civil War (Philadelphia in the Civil War 1860-65). In 1865 he moved to Philadelphia to serve an internship at a lithography firm. By 1870 he had established his own lithography firm and was serving as a special artist for various newspapers and publications in the city. He was married to Margaret "Maggie" Gilkenson Johnston in Philadelphia in 1870. Margaret died in 1920. Between 1878 and 1893 Taylor " traveled almost continually in the employment of New York Based companies including Leve & Alden, the American Bank Note Company, and Giles Company, all of which published tourist guidebooks." Taylor entered semi-retirement in 1910 to focus on a series of watercolors, washes, and drawings of Philadelphia.

It is likely that he was hired by the owner (or was a guest) at this beautiful home on one of the Thimble Islands. The Thimble Islands is an archipelago consisting of small islands in Long Island Sound, located in and around the harbor of Stony Creek in the southeast corner of Branford, Connecticut.

Piece is on Consignment. Minimum amount must be met in order for sale to be completed. Any amount above $5,000 will be tax deductible