Depicting a phenomenal late 19th century still life this rather cute scene shows two white kittens with a guitar surrounded with pages of titled sheet music. Painted by the talented American Luther Emerson Van Gorder from Toledo, Ohio he became well known for his Parisian landscapes and street scenes making this unusual still life a rather rare and notable work by the artist. Executed primarily in watercolor a minimal touch of gouache is present painted on watermarked “J. Whatman” heavy watercolor paper as shown photographed. Signed in the lower left corner “LE Van Gorder” this work is dated 1885 which is during the first visit to Paris he made between the years 1884 - 1886 while studying under Carolus Duran at the École des Beaux-Arts. As a young 24 year old artist this was executed early in his career and shows a great side to his artistic merit that subsequently never came to be in place of his landscape work which he preferred.

The guitar shows a fine inlay work all around the body as well as the sound hole adding an appreciated level of detail and ornamentation. Sheet music is decorating/cluttering the table with two highly unusual sweet white kittens present; one stretching its paw up onto the guitar as though he is strumming the low E string while the other lays curled over the blue strap. The guitar sits in an appealing contrast with its warm brown and red rich wood tones to the cold primarily blue surroundings possibly a narration of what music was for Luther, a sense of warmth and significance. The condition while good the work does have some old paper present verso with some loss as it has been removed from an old previous backing. Recto the work is very nice but has one small surface abrasion 1cm i length present top left and a small spot of surface loss .5cm in diameter present top center left edge. Both of which can be easily fixed by any paper conservator for a nominal amount including its appropriate slight discoloration and minor matt burn. The images provided accurately represent the quality, condition and aesthetic beauty of this phenomenal and rare original Luther Van Gorder painting but if you have any questions please feel free to ask prior to purchasing!