Antique Oil Painting USA Artist Catherine W Watkins Birch Trees C 1919.

We have 3 different paintings (Large) by this Artist from a private English Estate Collection. Combined crated shipping available please request.

For Sale we are delighted to present this very large beautiful Antique signed Oil Painting by the American born Artist Catherine W Watkins, this impressionist impasto Oil on canvas of a Silver Birch forest in France with bracken to background and footpath to foreground is absolutely amazing, please read C W Watkins full Biography below who painted using the impasto technique combined with impressionist depictions of browns greens purples & orange oil paint shades.

Condition is fantastic for 100 year's age plus, no damage no repairs not relined.

Measurements Framed 122cm wide,105.5 cm, depth of frame approximately 7 cm.

Shipping we package supremely & we build custom plywood crates & house secured into crate, for combined each painting is ply crated seperately then bonded as one crate.

About The artist.

Catherine W. Watkins (1861-1947)

Catherine W. Watkins was born in Esquesing, near Hamilton, Ontario to Charles W. Watkins and Harriet 

Beckwith. The family moved to Detroit, Michigan when Watkins was nine years old.1 A graduate of the 

Chicago Institute of Art, Watkins studied and traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia for many 

years. She spent a decade studying in Paris and several years in Italy. She studied further under artist 

Frank Brangwyn in London. During the 1930’s Watkins often gave lectures on her travel adventures 

which included time spent in China.2

Watkin’s brother, Dr. Samuel C.G. Watkins was a prominent dentist who made numerous contributions to 

the field. He received his degree from the Boston Dental College and in 1876 moved to Montclair, NJ 

where he became the town’s first dentist.3 He invented a sectional headrest used on dental chairs as well 

as the first curved and tufted toothbrush. Dr. Watkins befriended George Inness and other artists in 

Montclair. He wrote about his relationship with Inness in his book Reminiscences of Montclair from 

1876. He was Acting President of the American Dental Association (1895), President of the New Jersey 

State Dental Society (1889) and Chairman of the organizing committee of the World’s Columbian Dental 

Congress. In addition, Dr. Watkins was a member of the Salmagundi Club and a trustee of the Montclair 

Art Association. He became vice-president of the Art Association in 1917. An avid collector and patron, 

Dr. Watkin’s had a substantial collection of American paintings.4

In 1908, Watkin’s painting entitled A Village in Brittany was exhibited hors concours during the 14th

annual exhibition of the American Women’s Art Association of Paris. Held at the American Art Students’ 

club the show was comprised of work by 55 American painters residing in Paris.5 Watkins exhibited with 

the Women’s Art Association again in 1910.6 During the same year, she exhibited After the Rain at the 

Paris Salon.7 In 1913, Watkins was one of 40 American artists represented at the National Salon. Her 

work was shown alongside notable artists including Cecilia Beaux, Frederick Carl Frieseke, Alexander 

Harrison, and Jane Peterson.

In 1890, Watkins married Judge Stephen A. Foley in Springfield, Illinois. It was the second marriage for 

Judge Foley, a wealthy philanthropist, and ended in divorce in 1914.9 Watkins moved to Woodstock, 

New York where she worked during World War I.

In 1921, Watkins traveled to the West Coast and settled in Los Angeles where she lived for many years at

2600 Wilshire Blvd. During the following decade Watkins gave many talks and lectures on her travels. In 

1933, she spoke on the topic of “Student Life in Paris” at a meeting of the Japan America Society in the 

parish house of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Los Angeles.

10 The same year, Watkins spoke during a 

meeting of the Women’s Canadian Club about her experiences during World War I which “put a sudden 

end to the studio life.”11 In 1934, Watkin’s gave a series of lectures during a tour of Southern California.12

During her lifetime, Watkins exhibited throughout Europe including in Paris and Madrid.13 A member of 

the National Association of Women Painters & Sculptors and the American Women’s Art Association, 

Catherine W. Watkins died in Los Angeles, California in 1947.