Winter Morning Connecticut, watercolor, c.1932
Martin Lewis (1881-1962)
Oil Paintings – Watercolors - Drawings
Martin Lewis (1881-1962) Martin Lewis was born on June 7, 1881 in Castlemaine, Australia. It was while he was attending the local technical school that he first studied drawing with Thomas Fisher Levick. At the age of fifteen he left home and traveled in New South Wales and New Zealand, working as a posthole digger and a merchant seaman before settling into a Bohemian community outside of Sydney. Two of his drawings were published in a radical Sydney newspaper, the Bulletin. He also studied with Julian Ashton at the Art Society's School in Sydney. His first known job after arriving in the United States was painting stage decorations for the McKinley Presidential Campaign of 1900. Little is known of his early years in this country; however, by 1909 he was living and working in New York City. In 1910 he traveled to London and visited his brother, Llewellyn, and an uncle in Wales. While there he met Esta Varez, an amateur photographer and singer. She returned with him to New York City where they were involved with a circle of friends that included artists and writers. In 1920 Esta and Martin were separated. Because of his breakup with Esta, his dissatisfaction with commercial art, and his interest in Japanese art and culture, he left New York and moved to Japan in 1920. His intentions were to move there permanently; however, he was unable to master the Japanese language or to make a living, so after a few years he returned to New York City. Lewis' sophisticated compositions enabled him to move to the next level in his artistic career. Kennedy Galleries gave him his first one artist show in 1927 featuring his watercolors. The first show was a great success and the gallery invited him to have a second show in 1928 which featured his prints. The prints were an immediate success. He sold out many editions within short periods of time. One print, Relics, was so popular that the edition was sold out in four months at $28 each. A month later the gallery sold a trial proof of Relics for $100, almost four times the original price. Like most artists Martin Lewis drew all the time, he was known for traveling with several sketch books filling one after another with figure drawings and location sketches. Some of these quick works would be expanded on as watercolors, oils, or his prints. This wonderful collection of works contains a full range from finished oil paintings and watercolors to a number of interesting graphite drawings. Many items are not signed by the artist. This is very true of the graphite drawings. The Old Print Shop has represented the Estate of Martin Lewis since 1987 and every object on this list contains one of the two estate stamps, either LDL for Lucile Deming Lewis or PL for Patricia Lewis, the artist’s daughter-in-law.
1 View From Window Millers Point, Sydney N.S.W. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Graphite and pencil drawing, c.1898. Unsigned. Titled in pencil, lower left. Stamped by the estate on verso, "Collection of Lucile Deming Lewis" and "LDL 823." Image size 10 x 7" (25.3 x 17.7 cm). Good condition. #90894-1 $6,500.00 Martin Lewis did a number of drawings of Australia before moving to America
2 Hulk at Berry's Bay. [Australia]. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Graphite drawing, c.1898. Unsigned. Titled in pencil, upper left. Stamped by the estate on verso, "Collection of Lucile Deming Lewis" and marked "LDL- 822." Paper size 7 x 10 1/8" (17.8 x 25.7 cm). #91114-1 $2,750.00
3 Horse and Wagon Delivery. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Ink wash drawing, c.1916. Unsigned. Inscribed with the artist's name, lower right, and initialed "P.L." which stands for Patricia Lewis, the artist's daughter-in-law. Stamped by the estate on verso, "Collection of Lucile Deming Lewis" and marked "LDL- 797." Paper size 5 7/16 x 7 1/4" (13.8 x 19.7 cm). Good condition. #91117-1 $2,100.00
4 Lumberyard. (Roustabout). Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Graphite drawing, 1916. Unsigned. Inscribed with the artist's name, lower left, and initialed "P.L." which stands for Patricia Lewis, the artist's daughter-in-law. Stamped by the estate on verso, "Collection of Lucile Deming Lewis" and "LDL 847." Paper size 4 13/16 x 8 3/16" (12 x 20.9 cm). Good condition. #90897-1 $2,000.00
5 Railroad Yards, Winter, Weehawken. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Oil on canvas, c.1917. Signed lower left. Illustrated in "Martin Lewis' Retrospective Exhibition: April 11-28, 1973" at Kennedy Galleries. The painting is related to the etching that was produced in 1918 entitled "Above the Yards, Weehawken." Canvas size 21 x 25" (534 x 634 mm). Very good condition. #11815-1 $65,000,00
6 Study for Above the Yards, Weekawken. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Graphite drawing, 1918. Signed in pencil, lower right. Inscribed "Above the R. Road Yards, Weehawken." Stamped by the estate on verso, "Collection of Lucile Deming Lewis" and "LDL 694." Titled in graphite lower left. Image size 9 9/16 x 13 3/8" (24.3 x 34 cm). Good condition. #90901-1 $6,000.00
7 Highwood Terrace, Weehawken. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Graphite with white highlights, undated, c.1918. Titled lower left within image. Unsigned, inscribed with artist's name and initialed "PL" lower right verso. Stamped "Collection of Lucile Deming Lewis" and "LDL 317." Paper size 11 1/2 x 9" (29.2 x 22.8 cm). Good condition. #908981 $6,000.00
8 Gokei Honshu. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Graphite drawing with white highlights, c.1920. Inscribed "Gokei Honshu?" in the artist hand, lower right. Martin Lewis moved to Japan in 1920 and lived there for eighteen months before returning to America. Stamped on verso "Collection of Lucile Deming Lewis" and "LDL 368." Image size 11 1/4 x 9 1/16" (28.6 x 23.1 cm). Good condition. #90899-1 $3,000.00
9 East Gotemba - Near Fuji. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Watercolor, 1921. Signed and titled lower right Image Size 13 3/4 x 16 7/8" (348 x 428 mm). Very good condition. #81526-1 $7,500.00
10 Island Sea Shydoekime. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Oil on canvas, c.1920. Signed "Martin Lewis" lower right. Canvas size 20 3/4 x 18" (527 x 457 mm). Very good condition. #85598-1 $9,000.00
11 Village near Gotemba. [Fuji in distance.] Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Oil on academy board, c.1920. Signed lower right with monogram. Stamped on verso "Collection Patricia Lewis," the artist's daughter-in-law. Board size 11 7/8 x 15 7/8" (302 x 405 mm). Good condition and color. #42520-1 $7,500.00
12 Gokei. [Road through Boulder Creek.] Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Watercolor, c.1920. Signed lower right "Martin Lewis Gokei." Pencil inscription on verso "Sekimon (Rock-gate). Gokei." Paper size 20 3/4 x 17 7/8" (528 x 454 mm). Good condition and color. #50020-1 $17,500.00
13 Coast off Iyo, Japan. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Watercolor, c.1920. Signed lower left "Martin Lewis, Iyo Shikoku." Paper size 20 3/4 x 17 3/4" (527 x 451 mm). Good condition and color. #42531-1 $14,500.00
14 Coast at Atami, Izu, Japan. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Watercolor, c.1920. Signed lower right. Inscribed "Atami, Izu." Paper size 19 7/8 x 16 7/8" (505 x 430 mm). Very good condition. #32812-1 $16,500.00
15 Inland Sea Enoura. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Oil on canvas, c.1920. Canvas size 13 x 16 1/8" (330 x 410 mm). Signed lower left "M. Lewis Endura." Canvas stamped on verso "Collection Patricia Lewis." Patricia Lewis is the daughter-in-law of the artist. Good condition and color, tack holes in corners. #45192-1 $7,500.00
16 Yoshida Kai. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Watercolor, c.1920. Signed and titled in ink. Image size 16 11/16 x 13 11/16" (423 x 347 mm). Very good condition. #72695-1 $5,500.00
17 Shoddushima. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Watercolor, c.1920. Signed and titled Lower left. Image Size 20 3/4 x 17 3/4" (527 x 451 mm). Very good condition. #81528-1 $7,000.00
18 Yumoto - Hakone. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Watercolor, c.1920. Signed and titled Lower Right. Image Size 17 7/8 x 20 3/4 " (453 x 527mm). Very good condition. #81530-1 $7,500.00
19 Fireworks, Tokyo. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Oil on academy board, c.1920. Signed lower left with monogram. Stamped on verso with academy board maker, "J. I. Bumpodo. . . Tokyo, Japan." Stamped "Collection Lucile Deming Lewis" the artist's wife. Board size 16 x 11 7/8" (406 x 302 mm). Good condition and color. #42518-1 $9,500.00
20 Bus Riders New York. Study for Tabloid Readers. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Pencil and ink drawing, c.1927. Unsigned. Stamped by the estate on verso, "Collection of Lucile Deming Lewis" and "LDL 931." Titled in graphite lower left. Paper size 4 7/8 x 6 3/4" (12.4 x 17.2 cm). Good condition. #90900-1 $6,500.00
21 Mother and Child. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Graphite drawing, c.1928. Unsigned. Stamped by the estate on verso, "Collection of Lucile Deming Lewis" and marked "LDL- 521." Paper size 7 3/4 x 6 1/2" (19.7 x 16.5 cm). Good condition. #91111-1 $1,100.00
22 Walking and Resting Studies. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Graphite drawing, c.1928. Unsigned. Stamped by the estate on verso, "Collection of Lucile Deming Lewis" and marked "LDL- 525." Additional figure studies on verso. Paper size 7 3/4 x 6 1/2" (19.6 x 16.4 cm). Good condition. #91102-1 $1,250.00
23 Study for "Rainy Day, Queens." Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Graphite drawing, c.1931. Unsigned. Stamped by the estate on verso, "Collection of Lucile Deming Lewis" and marked "LDL- 497." Paper size 6 3/16 x 4 3/8" (15.8 x 11.2 cm). Good condition. #91107-1 $1,100.00
24 Back Road - Sandy Hook, Conn. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Graphite drawing with white highlights, undated, c.1932. Unsigned.. Inscribed with the artist's name, lower right, and initialed "P.L." which stands for Patricia Lewis, the artist's daughter-in-law. Stamped by the estate on verso, "Collection of Lucile Deming Lewis" and "LDL 293." Titled in graphite lower left. Image size 16 5/8 x 11 7/8" (42.2 x 30.2 cm). Good condition. #90893-1 $11,000.00
25 Study for: Which Way? Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Drawing in black chalk and white heightening on blue paper, c.1932. Unsigned, most of Martin Lewis' study drawings are unsigned. One of several study drawings for the aquatint "Which Way?" McCarron #99. Martin Lewis often made many study drawings of a subject before committing the image to a plate. On verso "LDL 457." Paper size 6 7/8 x 12 7/8" (17.5 x 32.7 cm). Very good condition. A stunning study drawing. #90753-1 $9,500.00 26 Winter Morning, Connecticut. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Watercolor, c.1932. Signed in watercolor lower right. Stamp on verso "Collection Patricia Lewis" and "ML 174." Image size 17 7/8 x 20 3/4" (454 x 527 mm). Very good condition. #41177-1 $25,000.00
27 Study drawing for Wet Night Route 6. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Graphite drawing, c.1933. Unsigned. Stamped by the estate on verso, "Collection of Lucile Deming Lewis" and marked "LDL- 354." Paper size 9 x 11 5/8" (22.8 x 29.6 cm). Good condition, folded twice vertically, possibly by the artist. #91084-1 $1,750.00
28 Summer Resort, Thunder. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Gouache on watercolor paper, c.1933. Signed in gouache, lower right. Image size 20 1/4 x 24 7/8" (513 x 632 mm). Good condition. #22119-2 $80,000.00 This house still stands in Danbury, Connecticut.
29 Across to Overlook Mountain, Woodstock, N.Y. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Oil on academy board, c.1933. Unsigned, stamped on verso "Collection Patricia Lewis," the artist's daughter-in-law. Label on verso for board maker "Kensington Artists' Sketching Panels." Board size 11 7/8 x 15 7/8" (302 x 405 mm). Good condition and color. #42530-1 $8,500.00
30 Wayside Gossip. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Graphite drawing, c.1934. Signed in pencil. Inscribed "Walnut Tree Hill : Sandy Hook Conn : Wayside Gossip" in the lower right margin. Stamped by the estate on verso, "Collection of Lucile Deming Lewis" and "LDL 84." Image size 9 x 10 15/16" (22.9 x 27.8 cm). Very good condition. #90895-1 $12,000.00
31 Picnic at the Beach. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Graphite drawing, c.1937. Unsigned. Stamped by the estate on verso, "Collection of Lucile Deming Lewis" and marked "LDL- 668." Paper size 8 x 10 3/8" (20.2 x 26.3 cm). Good condition, save some soiling and a stain on the right. #91113-1 $1,250.00
32 Facial Studies. Martin Lewis (1881-1962). Graphite drawing, c.1946. Unsigned. Inscribed with the artist's name, lower right, and initialed "P.L." which stands for Patricia Lewis, the artist's daughter-in-law. Stamped by the estate on verso, "Collection of Lucile Deming Lewis" and marked "LDL- 515." Paper size 13 13/16 x 10 1/2" (35.1 x 26.7 cm). Good condition, save some spotting on the right. #91112-1 $1,250.00