William Frederick Foster was an American artist, painter and sculptor, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1883. He became a noted figure painter and illustrator, living the last 21 years of his career in Los Angeles, California. At the age of 12 years, he moved with his family to Colorado, but in 1898, he returned to Cincinnati and enrolled at the Art Academy, where he studied with Joseph Henry Sharp and Frank Duveneck. Foster's early ambition was to be a violinist, but he was re-focused on fine art, when he saw a painting by Albert Beck Wenzell. In 1902, he went to New York City, where he painted scenery for theaters, auditoriums and large department stores. He also studied at the New York School, with Robert Henri and William Merritt Chase.
From 1903–31, Foster worked as an illustrator and had a brief teaching stint, in 1919, at the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1903, he sold his first illustration, a depiction of high society, to Life magazine, with the style very similar to Wenzell. From that time onwards, he worked for most of the major magazines, including Collier's, The Saturday Evening Post and Harper's Monthly. In 1926, he won the National Academy of Design's Thomas B. Clarke Prize, for the best figure composition painted in the United States by a non-academician. The following year, Foster was voted an Associate Member, based on his recognition for a figure work titled, The Girl in Brown.
During World War I, Foster operated his own ambulance in France, as a member of the American Volunteer Motor Ambulance Corps and also received mention as a camoufleur artist. Returning to the U.S., he resumed his illustration work and moved to Chicago, where he taught at the Art Institute. He moved to Los Angeles, in 1932 and devoted his energy to painting, exhibiting and teaching. He taught at the Chouinard School of Art, in Los Angeles and gave private classes in his studio. Foster also worked on a mural project at the Hearst estate, in Wyntoon, California and was an active member of the California Art Club.
“Show me the mystery of this lock...” Story illustration for Cosmopolitan
By William Frederick Foster
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Story illustration for “The Illustrious Prince: The Ball at Devenham House” by E. Phillips Oppenheim for Cosmopolitan, published February 1910, page 355. The full caption reads: ...
Oil
Untitled, Harper's Monthly 1917
By William Frederick Foster
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Medium: Oil on Canvas Signature: Signed Lower Left Harper's Monthly, 1917.
Canvas, Oil
$9,518
H 22.84 in W 19.69 in D 3.15 in
Aeneas Fleeing the Burning of Troy, 17th Century Flemish Oil on Canvas Painting
Located in Firenze, IT
This oil painting on canvas, created by an artist from the 17th Century Flemish School, depicts one of the most significant scenes from Greco-Roman mythology: Aeneas saving his famil...
Canvas, Oil
$891
H 15.75 in W 18.9 in D 0.79 in
Untitled - Blue Landscape With Trees, XX Century Figurative Oil Painting
Located in Hallein, AT
Alina Dobrowolska - artist from Gdańsk; graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk at the Faculty of Painting. She took part in collective and individual exhibitions in Poland...
Canvas, Oil
$1,784
H 51.19 in W 38.19 in
"Ô de la nuit", Night Blue Forest Abstract Landscape Oil Painting
By Françoise Duprat
Located in Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
This large artwork figures a bamboo forest in the night. The artist impasto technique is light, with textured painting and a few small reliefs. This artwork is not framed. Françoi...
Canvas, Oil
$4,161
H 20.08 in W 28.75 in D 1.19 in
Italian Impressionist Oil on Board Marine Landscape Painting Naples Bay View
By Francesco Coppola Castaldo
Located in Firenze, IT
Everyday fishermen life is captured in this wonderful Italian impressionist late 19th century oil painting on thin board titled fishermen ashore. We love the neutral and natural colo...
Oil, Board
$172,520
H 94.49 in W 85.44 in D 1.19 in
Oil on Canvas Painting Portrait of the Italian Noble Family of Zanardi Count
By Lucia Casalini Torelli
Located in Firenze, IT
This museum quality old master oil on canvas formal portrait painting depicting the family of the Count Zanardi is signed by the artist- the female painter Lucia Casalini Torelli- and published in a book dedicated to Casalini Torelli’s workshop and academy. This palatial masterpiece artwork comes directly from the ancient Villa Maraini Guerrieri - Palidano di Gonzaga (Mantua), an historic Italian heritage building owned by the descendants of the family portrayed for more than two centuries, until 1998. The big scale of this oil on canvas masterpiece painting states the relevance of Lucia Casalini Torelli as a painter. The present artwork is a formal family portrait painting that aim to introduce the characters depicted according to their social role in the society. The noble family is all gathered under a loggia overlooking a park, the landscape in the background is partially covered by a beautiful red cloth on the right side. The father stands up and holds the hand of his eldest son, proudly introducing his future heir. The son wears a light-blue dress and red boots, he is depicted in a serious pose holding a black tricorn hat under his arm and a rapier sword on his belt. The mother wears an elegant gold and dark green brocade dress, she is sitting with her youngest daughter on her knees while her second son is by her side. The little daughter wears a lovely long red and dress with white lace and holds an apple on her hand. The son stands next to his mother and is dressed in a brown priestly clothes. This palatial old masters piece was probably painted in 1740 due to the similarities with Cardinal Doria’ s portrait, now on display at the Doria Palace Museum, the official residence of the Prince of Genoa. The painting features original canvas (“prima tela”) and antique original patina, it is in excellent overall condition considering the age, use and its large scale. A formal detailed condition report and the results of the inspection with the UV lamp accompanied by photos is available on request. As well as for its exceptional quality and quite perfect state of conservation, this painting is particularly important and even more valuable both for the artist who painted it and for its absolutely exclusive provenance. Lucia painted the most prominent and powerful noble families of her time, the location of these paintings is unknown to the art market as it is extremely likely that the portraits are still kept in private collections. Furthermore, Lucia was one of the most appreciated artists of her time, so important that she was admitted as a member of the academy at a time when women were forbidden to attend these studies. In 1706, Felice Torelli...
Canvas, Oil
$2,117
H 23.63 in W 28.75 in
"Autumn Road", Rural Landscape with Cows Impressionist Oil Painting
By Yves Calméjane
Located in Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
This artwork depicts a rural landscape, with cows in a prairie, a fence in the foreground, a farm in the background, and fall colors. Yves Calméjane usually uses light impasto techn...
Canvas, Oil
$1,582
H 7.09 in W 7.88 in D 0.79 in
Feminine & Masculine XV - Modern Figurative Oil Painting, Beach View, Realism
By Julita Malinowska
Located in Hallein, AT
Artodyssey "Julita Malinowska's paintings belong to those, which once seen - are never forgotten. The open spaces, sometimes cool and bright, at other times heavily saturated with co...
Canvas, Oil
$2,117
H 23.63 in W 28.75 in
"The White Theater", Winter Rural Landscape Impressionist Oil Painting
By Yves Calméjane
Located in Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
This artwork depicts a rural landscape in winter, covered with snow. The cold weather can almost be felt through the frozen sky. Yves Calméjane usually uses light impasto technique...
Canvas, Oil
$5,948
H 67.33 in W 53.55 in D 2.37 in
Italian Oil on Canvas Painting Coat of Arms in Gold Leaves Panel and Black Frame
Located in Firenze, IT
This huge Italian 19th century armorial painting features the coat of arms of Montini, a noble Italian family that has among its ancestors the Archbishop of Milan, later known as Pope Paul VI. The large oval canvas has a brown and red background, the latter shaped like a shield, in which six mountains (from the etymology of the surname) and three white fleur de lis are painted. This big scale palatial oil painting...
Oil, Canvas, Wood
$5,592
H 17.33 in W 23.63 in D 1.97 in
Italian Oil on Alabaster Painting Pompeian Interior Scene in Ormolu Frame
Located in Firenze, IT
This Italian 19th century oil on alabastrer painting depicts an opulent interior in full ancient neoclassical Pompeian style with people festing. The figurative inner scene is painted on a rectangular alabaster slab and housed in a wonderful giltbronze frame resting on casted arrow feet. This is a single section of a bigger surtout de table. You can now use it as a decorative centrepiece on a table or on a console or turn it into a wall decoration. We can provide framing options in this case. The characters enjoy a rich banquet in an elaborate interior, the room renderings...
Alabaster, Bronze
$1,010
H 20.87 in W 15.75 in D 0.79 in
BOAT 02 September 20:24 - Modern Landscape Oil Painting, Nature Lake, Minimalism
By Robert Motelski
Located in Hallein, AT
Robert Motelski's paintings are exceptional visions of nature, visions of space which surrounds us. They tell about being, fate and passing. They depend on the season of year, the ti...
Canvas, Oil
$1,047
H 15.75 in W 20.87 in D 0.79 in
Horizon 17 September 02:16, Modern Night Sky, Stars Landscape Painting
By Robert Motelski
Located in Hallein, AT
Robert Motelski's paintings are exceptional visions of nature, visions of space which surrounds us. They tell about being, fate and passing. They depend on the season of year, the ti...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Sold
H 49.75 in W 35.75 in D 1.5 in
"Mary on the Bath" Impressionist Peach-Toned Nude Female Portrait Painting
By William Frederick Foster
Located in Houston, TX
Peach-toned nude female portrait oil painting titled "Mary on the Bath". The painting is signed by the artist on the back of the canvas. The painting is currently framed. Dimensions Without Frame: H 44 in. x W 30 in. Artist Biography: As a child William Frederick Foster and his family moved to Colorado, but he returned to Cincinnati in 1898 and enrolled at the Art Academy. He studied with Joseph Henry Sharp and Frank Duveneck. he was also an amateur musician. In 1902, he went to New York City where he painted scenery and studied at the New York School with Robert Henri and William Merritt Chase. From 1903 to 1931 he worked as an illustrator, with a brief teaching stint in 1919 at the Art Institute of Chicago. He sold his first illustration to "Life" magazine in 1903. After that he worked for most of the major magazines including "Collier's", "The Saturday Evening Post", and "Harper's Monthly". He won the National Academy of Design's Clark Prize (1926) for the best figure composition painted in the United States by a non-academician. The following year, he was voted an Associate Member based on recognition for "The Girl in Brown." After the War he moved to Los Angeles and devoted his energy to painting, exhibiting, and teaching. He taught at the Chouinard School of Art in Los Angeles and gave private classes in his studio. He also worked on a mural project at the Hearst estate...
Canvas, Oil
Before the Ball
By William Frederick Foster
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Oil, Canvas