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Francis Augustus Silva Sold at Auction Prices

Character Painter, Painter, b. 1835 - d. 1886

(b New York City 1835; d New York City 1886) American painter. Before the onset of the Civil War, Francis Silva apprenticed under a local commercial painter in New York City, where he spent his days decorating signs, fire wagons and stagecoaches. In 1867 Silva opened his first studio, launching his professional painting career. Silva traveled along the New England and mid-Atlantic coastlines throughout the warm summer months executing sketches that he would later develop into finished works in his studio. Silva exhibited regularly at prestigious New York institutions including the National Academy of Design and the Brooklyn Academy of Art, garnering a reputation as one of the country's important luminist painters. The term "luminism" was not contemporary to the movement itself; it was coined by historian John I. H. Baur in 1954 to describe the "particularly American consciousness of light and atmosphere in mid-nineteenth century landscape painting" (John Wilmerding, American Light: The Luminist Movement, 1850-1875, 1989, p. 12). Between 1871 and 1876 Silva often painted the dramatic Hudson River vistas between Haverstraw and the Tappan Zee, with varying points of view and under a variety of light and weather conditions. (Credit: Sotheby’s, New York, American Paintings, Drawings, and Sculpture, December 3, 2008, Lot 9).



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      • Francis Augustus Silva (1835-1886) Cuttyhunk Light 20 x 36 1/8 in. (50.8 x 91.8 cm.) (Painted in 1872.)
        May. 01, 2024

        Francis Augustus Silva (1835-1886) Cuttyhunk Light 20 x 36 1/8 in. (50.8 x 91.8 cm.) (Painted in 1872.)

        Est: $30,000 - $50,000

        Francis Augustus Silva (1835-1886) Cuttyhunk Light signed and dated 'F.A. SILVA. / 72' (lower left) oil on canvas 20 x 36 1/8 in. (50.8 x 91.8 cm.) Painted in 1872.

        Bonhams
      • FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA OIL OF SEABRIGHT, NJ
        Jan. 27, 2024

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA OIL OF SEABRIGHT, NJ

        Est: $250,000 - $350,000

        SILVA, Francis Augustus (1835 - 1886). Seabright from Galilee, New Jersey. Oil on canvas. Signed and dated lower right: "1880 Seabright from Galilee/ Francis A. Silva" 1880. 21 1/4" x 42" canvas, 32 3/4" x 54" framed, modern. Provenance: (Sale: Christie, Manson & Woods Inc., New York, May 23, 1979, lot 69); H.V. Allison Galleries, New York, 1989; R.H. Love Galleries, Chicago, 2000. This evocative landscape is the work of prominent nineteenth-century American painter Francis Augustus Silva. The scene shows the coastal town of Sea Bright, New Jersey, as glimpsed from the small town of Galilee, which lies on the spit of land -- now Monmouth Beach - that separates the Shrewsbury River from the Atlantic. This part of the northern New Jersey shore is now highly developed, but Silva shows it as a sleepy, bucolic seaside community. In the distance, the village of Sea Bright appears on the low horizon as a cluster of clapboard houses rising beyond the inlet formed by the calm, marshy waters of the Shrewsbury River. At far left is Rumson, and behind that the Highlands of Navesink. In the foreground, a small girl feeds a group of chickens in a grassy boat- yard. The quality of the light -- redolent of a still, warm spring morning -- grants the composition a heightened sense of naturalism and tranquility. This masterful treatment of light is the hallmark of Silva's style. The artist, known for exaggerating and intensifying natural effects of light and air for poetic purposes, is considered a leader in the American Luminist movement. His subtle manipulation of light and atmosphere was an aesthetic device that transcended naturalism and became an almost abstract means of expressing sentiment. Silva was born on October 4, 1835 in New York City, the son of a French-Portuguese barber and his wife. Silva was apparently a precocious talent: as a boy, he exhibited pen drawings at the American Institute. Silva's parents, however, did not want him to pursue art as a career, so he apprenticed in several trades before ending up in the workshop of a sign painter. He practiced this trade, which involved painting historical subjects on the wooden panels of vehicles such as stage coaches and fire engines, until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, when he signed on to serve in the Seventh Regiment of the New York State Militia. Silva's debut as a painter came soon after the end of the war, at the National Academy of Design's annual exhibition of 1868-1869. Thereafter, his reputation as a marine and landscape painter grew rapidly. In addition to the National Academy of Design, Silva exhibited at the Brooklyn Art Association and the Union League Club. Many of his early works focused on the Hudson River or the New England shoreline, but not long after marrying Margaret A. Watts of Keyport, New Jersey, Silva turned his attention to the sand dunes and barrier islands of the New Jersey shore. By 1870, Silva had evolved from a self-taught artist to one with a remarkably skillful technique and a repertoire of marine subjects and atmospheric effects that varied little for the rest of his life. "We have few artists who are so accurate in drawing or so conscientious in the rendering of detail," an Art Journal critic wrote in 1880: the very year Silva completed this superb composition. Silva's luminous technique led to his election to the American Water Color Society in 1872. The artist died relatively young -- at the age of fifty -- on March 31, 1886. His works are well represented in highly important American collections, including the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, and the Brooklyn Museum of Art in New York. This is a lovely work by an important American master. Literature: John I.H. Baur, Francis A. Silva, Beyond Luminism, 'The Magazine Antiques', November 1980, p. 1028, fig. 18, illustrated.

        Arader Galleries
      • Francis Augustus Silva - Marsh Scene
        Jan. 20, 2024

        Francis Augustus Silva - Marsh Scene

        Est: $5,000 - $7,000

        The Hudson River School in Focus: Property from the Friedman Collection Francis Augustus Silva 1835 - 1886 Marsh Scene signed F. A. Silva. and dated 80. (lower right) watercolor and pencil on paper 10 ¾ by 19 ⅞ in. 27.3 by 50.5 cm. Executed in 1880.

        Sotheby's
      • Francis Augustus Silva - White Island Light, Isles of Shoals
        Jan. 20, 2024

        Francis Augustus Silva - White Island Light, Isles of Shoals

        Est: $40,000 - $60,000

        The Hudson River School in Focus: Property from the Friedman Collection Francis Augustus Silva 1835 - 1886 White Island Light, Isles of Shoals signed F. A. Silva. (lower left) oil on canvas 20 ½ by 28 in. 52.1 by 71.1 cm.

        Sotheby's
      • Cape Ann
        Jan. 19, 2024

        Cape Ann

        Est: $80,000 - $120,000

        Francis Augustus Silva 1835 - 1886 Cape Ann signed F.A. Silva. and dated 1870 (lower left); titled (on the upper stretcher) oil on canvas 20 ½ by 40 in. 52.1 by 101.6 cm. Executed in 1870.

        Sotheby's
      • On the North River
        Jan. 19, 2024

        On the North River

        Est: $200,000 - $300,000

        Property from a Private Collection, Maine Francis Augustus Silva 1835 - 1886 On the North River signed Francis A. Silva. and dated 79 (lower left); signed again and titled (on the reverse prior to lining) oil on canvas 20 by 36 in. 50.8 by 91.4 cm. Executed in 1879.

        Sotheby's
      • FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (1835-1886) - Long Branch Beach
        Jan. 18, 2024

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (1835-1886) - Long Branch Beach

        Est: $40,000 - $60,000

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (1835-1886) Long Branch Beach oil on canvas 12 x 24 in. (30.5 x 61 cm.)

        Christie's
      • FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (1835-1886) - Sunrise at Barnegat Beach, New Jersey
        Jan. 18, 2024

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (1835-1886) - Sunrise at Barnegat Beach, New Jersey

        Est: $30,000 - $50,000

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (1835-1886) Sunrise at Barnegat Beach, New Jersey oil on canvas 14 x 24 in. (35.6 x 61 cm.)

        Christie's
      • FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (1835-1886) Fishing Boats on Jamaica Bay oil on canv
        Jan. 19, 2023

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (1835-1886) Fishing Boats on Jamaica Bay oil on canv

        Est: $40,000 - $60,000

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (1835-1886) Fishing Boats on Jamaica Bay oil on canvas 21 x 39 1/4 in. (53.3 x 99.7 cm.)

        Christie's
      • AMERICAN-FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA 1835-1886 SIGNED WATERCOLORS
        Nov. 19, 2022

        AMERICAN-FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA 1835-1886 SIGNED WATERCOLORS

        Est: $8,000 - $16,000

        American-Francis Augustus Silva 1835-1886 Signed Watercolors (ALL FROM SAME COLLECTION). Measures 19" x 28.5", 19" x 22", 11 3/4" 15 1/4", 11.5" x 13" and 11 3/4" x 14 3/4" Please carefully read our terms of sale, shipping information, and request any condition reports or photos prior to placing a bid. Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. RBFineArts CFL INC. shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections, or the effects of aging. Please email for a condition report and photos, if desired. Emails should be received at least 48 hours in advance of the date of the auction. Please make sure you have read the Terms and Conditions* before you bid. ALL ITEMS ARE SOLD AS IS!. Any registration and/or bid placed by you guaranteed RBFineArts CFL Inc. you have read and will abide by the following Terms and Conditions of the sale. Transportation of buyer's items: For a charge of 15.00 per invoice, RBFineArts Shipping Inc. will pick up and transport your item's from the offices of RBFineArts CFL Inc. All OTHER transport to any other third party shipper there will be a 25.00 transport fee, there will be no exceptions for this condition. The buyer is responsible for paying for shipping, packing, and transport, etc. RBFineArts CFL Inc. is not responsible for packing, shipping, or transport of any items from buyer's invoice. *Please see terms and conditions for additional information on payment and shipping options

        RB Fine Arts
      • FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA, EARLY MORNING SAILING, O/C
        Oct. 18, 2022

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA, EARLY MORNING SAILING, O/C

        Est: $15,000 - $25,000

        Property from a Private Collection, Savannah, GA Description: Francis Augustus Silva (American, 1835-1886), Early Morning Sailing, Oil on Canvas, signed lower right, depicting sailboats and a rowboat with figures on the water, with remnants of a 'Rau Antiques' label, and framing label on verso, in giltwood frame. Frame size: 23 in. x 31 in. Provenance: Purchased James Julia, 8/28/07 lot 133 for $47,150 Born in New York, Francis Silva was a second generation Hudson River School painter, who is best known for his many depictions of the Hudson River and along the coastline from Chesapeake Bay to Cape Ann, Massachusetts. He became one of the leading marine painters of the luminist style of the mid to late 19th century, especially known for his brilliant sunsets with atmospheric effects. He set up his studio in New York in 1867 following a brief tour in the military during the Civil War. (askart.com) Measurements: Height: by sight 11 1/2 in. x Width: 19 1/2 in. Condition: Good restored condition, small areas of inpainting along edges, inpainting in central sky above boats, possible repaired tear in center of sky below sun and into central sail boat.

        Everard Auctions and Appraisals
      • Francis A. Silva, An Old Connecticut Port
        Oct. 06, 2022

        Francis A. Silva, An Old Connecticut Port

        Est: $4,000 - $6,000

        Francis A. Silva (American 1835-1886), oil on canvas An Old Connecticut Port, signed lower left, 20" x 30".

        Pook & Pook Inc.
      • Francis Augustus Silva (1835 - 1886)
        Jul. 27, 2022

        Francis Augustus Silva (1835 - 1886)

        Est: $800 - $1,500

        Francis Augustus Silva (1835 - 1886) Watercolor on cardboard ,Signed ,measures 18.5 " x 9" inches

        Cutler Bay Auctions
      • FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (New York, 1835-1886), "Twin lights Thatcher Island, Cape Ann, Gloucester Massachusetts"., Oil on canvas, 7" x 13". Framed 20" x 27".
        Jul. 27, 2022

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (New York, 1835-1886), "Twin lights Thatcher Island, Cape Ann, Gloucester Massachusetts"., Oil on canvas, 7" x 13". Framed 20" x 27".

        Est: $10,000 - $15,000

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA New York, 1835-1886 "Twin lights Thatcher Island, Cape Ann, Gloucester Massachusetts". Signed lower left "F.A. Silva". Titled on frame plaque.

        Eldred's
      • FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA, EARLY MORNING SAILING, O/C
        Jun. 01, 2022

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA, EARLY MORNING SAILING, O/C

        Est: $15,000 - $25,000

        Property from a Private Collection, Savannah, GA Description: Francis Augustus Silva (American, 1835-1886), Early Morning Sailing, Oil on Canvas, signed lower right, depicting sailboats and a rowboat with figures on the water, with remnants of a 'Rau Antiques' label, and framing label on verso, in giltwood frame. Frame size: 23 in. x 31 in. Provenance: Purchased James Julia, 8/28/07 lot 133 for $47,150 Born in New York, Francis Silva was a second generation Hudson River School painter, who is best known for his many depictions of the Hudson River and along the coastline from Chesapeake Bay to Cape Ann, Massachusetts. He became one of the leading marine painters of the luminist style of the mid to late 19th century, especially known for his brilliant sunsets with atmospheric effects. He set up his studio in New York in 1867 following a brief tour in the military during the Civil War. (askart.com) Measurements: Height: by sight 11 1/2 in. x Width: 19 1/2 in. Condition: Good restored condition, small areas of inpainting along edges, inpainting in central sky above boats, possible repaired tear in center of sky below sun and into central sail boat.

        Everard Auctions and Appraisals
      • FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA, American (1835-1886), "By the Seaside, New Jersey Shore", 1883, (Keyport, New Jersey), oil on canvas, 26 1/4 x 40 1/4 inches
        Apr. 28, 2022

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA, American (1835-1886), "By the Seaside, New Jersey Shore", 1883, (Keyport, New Jersey), oil on canvas, 26 1/4 x 40 1/4 inches

        Est: $200,000 - $300,000

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA American, (1835-1886) "By the Seaside, New Jersey Shore", 1883 (Keyport, New Jersey) oil on canvas signed and dated lower left "Francis A. Silva 1883"

        Shannon's
      • Francis Augustus Silva (1835 - 1886) American
        Mar. 24, 2022

        Francis Augustus Silva (1835 - 1886) American

        Est: $1,000 - $2,500

        Francis Augustus Silva (1835 - 1886) Watercolor on cardboard ,Signed ,measures 18.5 " x 9" inches

        Cutler Bay Auctions
      • Francis A. Silva oil on canvas
        Jan. 14, 2022

        Francis A. Silva oil on canvas

        Est: $8,000 - $12,000

        Francis A. Silva (American 1835-1886), oil on canvas An Old Connecticut Port, signed lower left, 20" x 30". NO in-house shipping for this lot.

        Pook & Pook Inc.
      • FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (NY, 1835-1886)
        Nov. 13, 2021

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (NY, 1835-1886)

        Est: $30,000 - $40,000

        Marine Traffic Passing the Boston Light, oil on canvas, signed lower left, in fine replica gilt cove frame, OS: 14 1/2" x 23 1/2", SS: 8 1/2" x 17 1/2". Cleaned and relined.

        Thomaston Place Auction Galleries
      • FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA, American (1835-1886), Strolling Along the Bluff at Long Branch, New Jersey, ca. 1870, oil on canvas, 8 x 16 inches
        Oct. 28, 2021

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA, American (1835-1886), Strolling Along the Bluff at Long Branch, New Jersey, ca. 1870, oil on canvas, 8 x 16 inches

        Est: $25,000 - $35,000

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA American, (1835-1886) Strolling Along the Bluff at Long Branch, New Jersey, ca. 1870 oil on canvas signed lower right "Silva"

        Shannon's
      • Francis Augustus Silva (1835 - 1886)
        Sep. 23, 2021

        Francis Augustus Silva (1835 - 1886)

        Est: $800 - $1,500

        Francis Augustus Silva (1835 - 1886) Watercolor on cardboard ,Signed ,measures 18.5 " x 9" inches

        Cutler Bay Auctions
      • FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (NY, 1835-1886)
        Aug. 28, 2021

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (NY, 1835-1886)

        Est: $30,000 - $40,000

        Marine Traffic Passing the Boston Light, oil on canvas, signed lower left, in fine replica gilt cove frame, OS: 14 1/2" x 23 1/2", SS: 8 1/2" x 17 1/2". Cleaned and relined.

        Thomaston Place Auction Galleries
      • FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (NY, 1835-1886)
        Aug. 28, 2021

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (NY, 1835-1886)

        Est: $20,000 - $30,000

        "Twin Lights, Thatcher Island, Cape Ann, Gloucester, Massachusetts", oil on canvas, signed lower left, housed in what appears to be the original large deep cove gilt gesso frame, OS: 20" x 26", SS: 6 1/2" x 12 1/2". Good condition. Francis Silva was the son of a barber who had emigrated from Madeira to New York in 1830. Having no formal training, Silver worked as a sign painter before fighting in the Civil War as a Captain of the Ninth New York Volunteer Infantry. Immediately after the war he was admitted to the National Academy of Design, quickly gaining fame for his serene atmospheric views of harbors and boats.

        Thomaston Place Auction Galleries
      • FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (New York, 1835-1886), "Summer in Connecticut"., Watercolor on paper, 9.25" x 15.5" sight. Framed 18" x 24.75".
        Jul. 29, 2021

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (New York, 1835-1886), "Summer in Connecticut"., Watercolor on paper, 9.25" x 15.5" sight. Framed 18" x 24.75".

        Est: $2,000 - $3,000

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA New York, 1835-1886 "Summer in Connecticut". Signed and dated lower left "Aug. 14 '80 Silva". Titled on frame plaque.

        Eldred's
      • Francis Augustus Silva (1835 - 1886)
        Jun. 08, 2021

        Francis Augustus Silva (1835 - 1886)

        Est: $1,500 - $2,500

        Francis Augustus Silva (1835 - 1886) Watercolor on cardboard ,Signed ,measures 18.5 " x 9" inches

        Cutler Bay Auctions
      • Francis Augustus Silva, Red Sails At Sunset
        Jun. 08, 2021

        Francis Augustus Silva, Red Sails At Sunset

        Est: $15,000 - $25,000

        Francis Augustus Silva (American, 1835-1886) Oil on canvas masterpiece depicting a luminist seascape at twilight with red light reflected on the sails of a small schooner, with waves crashing on a rocky coast, housed in a fine period sand decorated Hudson River School frame, 21 1/4" x 32 3/4" canvas, 33 1/4" x 44" framed.

        Old Kinderhook Auction Company
      • Francis Augustus Silva (American, 1835-1886) Lakeside Cottage Gouache and waterc
        May. 07, 2021

        Francis Augustus Silva (American, 1835-1886) Lakeside Cottage Gouache and waterc

        Est: $6,000 - $8,000

        Francis Augustus Silva (American, 1835-1886) Lakeside Cottage Gouache and watercolor on paper 6-7/8 x 13-1/2 inches (17.5 x 34.3 cm) (sheet) Signed lower right: Francis A. Silva PROVENANCE: Christie's East, New York, November 28, 1995, lot 94; Private collection, New York, acquired from the above; By descent to the present owner. HID01801242017

        Heritage Auctions
      • Francis Augustus Silva (1835 - 1886) was active/lived in New York
        Apr. 13, 2021

        Francis Augustus Silva (1835 - 1886) was active/lived in New York

        Est: $1,500 - $2,500

        Francis Augustus Silva (1835 - 1886) Watercolor on cardboard ,Signed ,measures 18.5 " x 9" inches

        Cutler Bay Auctions
      • Francis Augustus Silva (American 1835-1886), Sailboats off a Rocky Coast, Signed, Framed Watercolor with White Heightening
        Jan. 05, 2021

        Francis Augustus Silva (American 1835-1886), Sailboats off a Rocky Coast, Signed, Framed Watercolor with White Heightening

        Est: $1,000 - $1,500

        Francis Augustus Silva (American 1835-1886) Sailboats off a Rocky Coast Signed F.A. Silva l.l. Watercolor with white heightening on paper; apparently in good condition. Framed.* Sight size: 9-1/2 x 19-1/2 in (24.1 x 49.6 cm)

        Weschler's
      • Francis Augustus Silva (American 1835-1886), Sailboats off a Rocky Coast, Signed, Framed Watercolor with White Heightening
        Sep. 18, 2020

        Francis Augustus Silva (American 1835-1886), Sailboats off a Rocky Coast, Signed, Framed Watercolor with White Heightening

        Est: $1,000 - $1,500

        Francis Augustus Silva (American 1835-1886) Sailboats off a Rocky Coast Signed F.A. Silva l.l. Watercolor with white heightening on paper; apparently in good condition. Framed.* Sight size: 9-1/2 x 19-1/2 in (24.1 x 49.6 cm)

        Weschler's
      • Francis Augusta Silva Harbor Scene O / B
        Feb. 01, 2020

        Francis Augusta Silva Harbor Scene O / B

        Est: $4,000 - $8,000

        This Lot Features An Oil On Board Harbor Scene Painting By Francis Augusta Silva (american, 1835 - 1886). Silva Was An American Painter Who Painted In The Hudson

        Weiss Lake Auction LLC
      • 6 Signed Watercolors Francis Augustus Silva 1835-1886.
        Jan. 18, 2020

        6 Signed Watercolors Francis Augustus Silva 1835-1886.

        Est: $15,000 - $20,000

        6 Signed Watercolors By Francis Augustus Silva 1835-1886 Francis Augustus Silva was active/lived in New York. Francis Silva is known for coastal views, marine and landscape painting.Measures 19" x 28.5", 2@ 19" x 22", 11 3/4" 15 1/4", 11.5" x 13" and 11 3/4" x 14 3/4". From a private collection Denver Estate.

        RB Fine Arts
      • Francis Augusta Silva Harbor Scene O / B
        Sep. 21, 2019

        Francis Augusta Silva Harbor Scene O / B

        Est: $4,000 - $8,000

        This Lot Features An Oil On Board Harbor Scene Painting By Francis Augusta Silva (american, 1835 - 1886). Silva Was An American Painter Who Painted In The Hudson School Manner. Signed Lower Right Register. Measures Approx. 8" X 14", 11.75" X 18.25" With Frame. The Auction High For Silva Is $2,685,500. This Piece Comes With A Letter From William H. Wright M.f.a Stating His Belief In The Painting's Authenticity. This Piece Comes From The Dickenson Estate Of Knoxville, Tennessee. See Photos For Details. Shipping Available Through Our Local Ups Store #6183

        Weiss Lake Auction LLC
      • SEASCAPE BY FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (NEW YORK, 1835-1886).
        Sep. 07, 2019

        SEASCAPE BY FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (NEW YORK, 1835-1886).

        Est: $1,000 - $1,500

        SEASCAPE BY FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (NEW YORK, 1835-1886). Oil on canvas, signed lower right. Sailboats off the coast. Restoration. 12"h. 18"w., framed, 17"h. 23"w. Purchased at Davies Auction, Washington.

        Garth's Auctioneers & Appraisers
      • Francis Augustus Silva (1835-1886) Robbin's Reef Lighthouse off Tompkinsville, New York Harbor c. 1880
        Jul. 20, 2019

        Francis Augustus Silva (1835-1886) Robbin's Reef Lighthouse off Tompkinsville, New York Harbor c. 1880

        Est: $200,000 - $300,000

        Francis Augustus Silva (1835-1886) Robbin's Reef Lighthouse off Tompkinsville, New York Harbor, c. 1880 Oil on canvas, 9"tall x 18" long Signed lower right: F. A. Silva. Provenance: Kennedy Galleries, New York Exhibited: Berry-Hill Galleries. New York, Francis A. Silva (1835-1886): In His Own Light, April 24-June 28, 2002, 111, pl. 45 (illustrated); 143. A leading marine painter of the second half of the nineteenth century, Francis A. Silva was born in New York City on October 4, 1835. He began his artistic career as an ornamental sign painter, and by 1859 was listed in the city directory as a professional painter. Concurrent with his artistic pursuits, the patriotic Silva enlisted in the army in the mid-1850s, serving first with the famed Seventh Regiment of the New York State Militia (which was also Sanford R. Giffords regiment). He then joined the brave and flamboyant Zouaves of the Seventh New York Volunteer Infantry as a first lieutenant. At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, he was promoted to captain in the First New York Volunteer Infantry and was with McClellan during the siege of Richmond. A bout of malaria sent Silva home to New York in May 1862. Shortly afterward, he was wrongly accused of desertion but was reinstated by the end of the year. Despite his vigorous efforts to obtain another military commission, he did not see active duty again until 1865, when he served for a brief period as a hospital steward in Lynn, Massachusetts. This marked a turning point in Silvas career as an artist, for it introduced him for the first time to the beauty of the New England coastline. Silva maintained a Ðtinge of the militaryÓ throughout his life, and his deep convictions about the war and its aftermath were often reflected in his paintings. Silva established a New York studio in 1867. He became a regular exhibitor at the National Academy of Design, Brooklyn Art Association, and the American Watercolor Society. He soon became known for his luminist paintings of the New England coast, the Hudson River, New York harbor, and the beaches of Long Island and New Jersey. An avid watercolorist and influential proponent of the medium, Silva became a member of the American Watercolor Society in 1872. He moved to Long Branch, New Jersey, in 1880, but maintained his ties to New York through his tenancy in the famous Tenth Street Studio Building until his untimely death from pneumonia in 1886. Robbins Reef lighthouse, named after the small ridge of sand upon which it is built, is located just off the northern tip of Staten Island, near the entrance to the Kill van Kull, a treacherous and narrow three-mile waterway that connects Upper New York Bay to Newark Bay. The original four-story octagonal granite tower, shown here in Silvas painting, was built in 1839, and guided vessels clear of the reef until 1883, when it was torn down and replaced with a cast iron and brick conical tower, the top half of which was painted white, and the bottom brown. The lighthouse, which is no longer in service, is often referred to as ÐKates Light,Ó and stands as a monument to Katherine Walker, the courageous woman who operated the remote lighthouse from 1895 until 1919. Silvas vantage point in Robbins Reef Lighthouse off Tompkinsville, New York Harbor is from the shores of, or in the waters around, Tompkinsville, Staten Island. The landmass to the left of the tower is Jersey City, and to the right is lower Manhattan. The composition is carefully balanced and orderly; Silva punctuates the canvas with the vertical forms of the reed on the right, the lighthouse, and the schooner on the left and the horizontal shapes of the rowboats scattered across the gently rippling water. The bustle of the metropolis in the distance is far removed from this tranquil scene, which is presided over by the protective lighthouse. The sun blazes through the haze of the clouds, illuminating the lighthouse and the water behind it. This creates a visual metaphor of a kind often seen in Silvas work: that of the natural light of the sun juxtaposed with the man-made light of the lighthouse. According to Mark Mitchell, lighthouses held a special meaning for Silva, who, as a veteran of the Civil War, saw them as heroic protectors of Americas coastline as well as admirable feats of modern technology. Notes: 1. Mark D. Mitchell, Francis A. Silva (1835-1886): In His Own Light (New York: Berry-Hill Galleries, 2002), 22. 2. Ibid., 31-32. Condition: More detailed condition reports and additional photographs are available by request. The absence of a condition report does not imply that the lot is in excellent condition. Please message us through the online bidding platform or call Guernsey's at 212-794-2280 to request a more thorough condition report.

        Guernsey's
      • FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA, New York, 1835-1886, "The Old Wreck"., Oil on canvas, 8" x 15". Framed 19" x 27".
        Jul. 13, 2019

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA, New York, 1835-1886, "The Old Wreck"., Oil on canvas, 8" x 15". Framed 19" x 27".

        Est: $12,000 - $18,000

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA New York, 1835-1886 "The Old Wreck". Signed lower left "Silva". Exhibited: St. Botolph Club, Boston: "Romance of the Sea", April 10-June 7, 2002. Provenance: Alexander Galleries, New York. The Collection of Morgan Levine. Oil on canvas, 8" x 15". Framed 19" x 27".

        Eldred's
      • FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA Beer's Cottage, Far Rockaway, Long Island.
        Jun. 13, 2019

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA Beer's Cottage, Far Rockaway, Long Island.

        Est: $40,000 - $60,000

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA Beer's Cottage, Far Rockaway, Long Island. Oil on canvas, circa 1883. 610x1115 mm; 24x44 inches. Signed in oil, lower left recto. Ex-collection The Old Print Shop, New York, 1955; private collection, Dallas; acquired Heritage Auctions, Dallas, June 26, 2016, sale 5260, lot 65020, by the current owner; private collection, New York. Published Mark D. Mitchell, Francis A. Silva: In His Own Light, with an Introduction by John Wilmerding, New York, Berry-Hill Galleries, 2002, page 138. Silva (1835-1886) was born and trained in New York. He was raised at 125 East Broadway, close to the bustling East River docks. Early on he worked as a sign painter's apprentice and by the late 1850s had established his own shop as an ornamental painter at 619 Houston Street. During the next several decades Silva and his family moved first to the Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn and subsequently to Long Branch on the New Jersey shore. During this time, Silva traveled the mid-Atlantic coast and refined his painting skill to become among the most admired American Luminist artists along with Fritz Hugh Lane and Martin Johnson Heade. This work depicts a scene in Far Rockaway, Queens, near Hog Island, where city dwellers would escape for summer beach outings. The boat slip is decorated with the flags of Holland, Ireland, France and England, among the American flags, indicating that many beachgoers were recent immigrants. Powerful hurricanes in 1893 and 1903 destroyed the beach and the structures along the shoreline leaving open water in Hempstead Bay, as it remains today.

        Swann Auction Galleries
      • FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA | Sailing on the Hudson near Nyack
        May. 21, 2019

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA | Sailing on the Hudson near Nyack

        Est: $700,000 - $1,000,000

        oil on canvas

        Sotheby's
      • Francis Augustus Silva (American, 1835-1886), "Sailing Boat"
        Apr. 27, 2019

        Francis Augustus Silva (American, 1835-1886), "Sailing Boat"

        Est: $4,000 - $7,000

        Francis Augustus Silva (American, 1835-1886) "Sailing Boat" oil on canvas board signed lower right, a "Seager Gallery, Elmsford, N.Y." label en verso. Framed. 7-3/4" x 14-3/4", framed 10-1/2" x 17-1/2" Provenance: Seager Gallery, Elmsford, New York.

        New Orleans Auction Galleries
      • Francis Augusta Silva Harbor Scene O / B
        Mar. 30, 2019

        Francis Augusta Silva Harbor Scene O / B

        Est: $4,000 - $8,000

        This Lot Features An Oil On Board Harbor Scene Painting By Francis Augusta Silva (american, 1835 - 1886). Silva Was An American Painter Who Painted In The Hudson

        Weiss Lake Auction LLC
      • SEASCAPE BY FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (NEW YORK, 1835-1886).
        Mar. 15, 2019

        SEASCAPE BY FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (NEW YORK, 1835-1886).

        Est: $4,000 - $6,000

        SEASCAPE BY FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (NEW YORK, 1835-1886). Oil on canvas, signed lower right. Sailboats off the coast. Restoration. 12"h. 18"w., framed, 17"h. 23"w. Purchased at Davies Auction, Washington.

        Garth's Auctioneers & Appraisers
      • SEASCAPE BY FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (NEW YORK, 1835-1886).
        Jan. 12, 2019

        SEASCAPE BY FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (NEW YORK, 1835-1886).

        Est: $4,000 - $6,000

        SEASCAPE BY FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (NEW YORK, 1835-1886). Oil on canvas, signed lower right. Sailboats off the coast. Restoration. 12"h. 18"w., framed, 17"h. 23"w. Purchased at Davies Auction, Washington.

        Garth's Auctioneers & Appraisers
      • Francis Augusta Silva Harbor Scene O/B
        Dec. 15, 2018

        Francis Augusta Silva Harbor Scene O/B

        Est: $4,000 - $8,000

        This lot features an oil on board harbor scene painting by Francis Augusta Silva (American, 1835 - 1886). Silva was an American painter who painted in the Hudson School manner. Signed lower right register. Measures approx. 8" x 14", 11.75" x 18.25" with frame. The auction high for Silva is $2,685,500. This piece comes with a letter from William H. Wright M.F.A stating his belief in the painting's authenticity. This piece comes from the Dickenson estate of Knoxville, Tennessee. See Photos for Details. Shipping Available.

        JD's Auctions
      • FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA, New York, 1835-1886, "Summer in Connecticut"., Watercolor on paper, 9.25" x 16.25" sight. Framed.
        Nov. 17, 2018

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA, New York, 1835-1886, "Summer in Connecticut"., Watercolor on paper, 9.25" x 16.25" sight. Framed.

        Est: $2,000 - $3,000

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA New York, 1835-1886 "Summer in Connecticut". Signed lower left "Aug. 14 '80 Silva". Titled on frame plaque. Watercolor on paper, 9.25" x 16.25" sight. Framed.

        Eldred's
      • FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (AMERICAN, 1835-1886) BY THE SEA OIL ON PANEL 4-1/2 X 7-3
        Nov. 08, 2018

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (AMERICAN, 1835-1886) BY THE SEA OIL ON PANEL 4-1/2 X 7-3

        Est: $20,000 - $30,000

        Francis Augustus Silva (American, 1835-1886) By the Sea Oil on panel 4-1/2 x 7-3/4 inches (11.4 x 19.7 cm) Signed lower left: Silva PROPERTY FROM A DISTINGUISHED NEW YORK COLLECTION PROVENANCE: Berry-Hill Galleries, Inc., New York; Private collection, New York. EXHIBITED: Berry-Hill Galleries, New York, "Francis A. Silva: In His Own Light," April 24-June 28, 2002. HID04901242017

        Heritage Auctions
      • FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (American, 1835-1886)
        Nov. 04, 2018

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (American, 1835-1886)

        Est: $1,000 - $1,500

        Waves breaking on the beach watercolor on paper h. 9-1/2 w. 29 in. (sight) overall: 18-1/2 x 38-1/4 in. Signed lower left, original frame, framed under glass

        Butterscotch Auction Gallery LLC
      • FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (AMERICAN, 1835-1886) EARLY MORNING SAILING Oil on canvas: 12 x 20 in.
        Sep. 29, 2018

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (AMERICAN, 1835-1886) EARLY MORNING SAILING Oil on canvas: 12 x 20 in.

        Est: $60,000 - $90,000

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA (AMERICAN, 1835-1886) EARLY MORNING SAILING Oil on canvas: 12 x 20 in. Framed; lower right signed: F. A. Silva; verso Rau label and note of authentication Dr. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Museum Provenance: M.S. Rau Antiques, New Orleans James D. Julia In. 8.28.2007 lot 133 Private Collection, Georgia

        Potomack Company
      • FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA | Moonlight Sail
        Mar. 28, 2018

        FRANCIS AUGUSTUS SILVA | Moonlight Sail

        Est: $25,000 - $35,000

        oil on canvas

        Sotheby's
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