Lot 678: Arthur Sheppard O/C Painting & Drawings, Boxing Matches, 5 pcs.

Five (5) Arthur Sheppard (California, 1875-1954) artworks depicting wrestling and boxing scenes, including oil on canvas and drawings. 1st item: Oil on canvas painting depicting a male figure throwing another man over his shoulder at the corner of a roped off boxing ring surrounded by an emotionally charged audience within an interior having lunette window and large chandelier. Unsigned. Unframed. Sight: 22" H x 28" W. Canvas: 23 7/8" H x 29 5/8" W. 2nd-5th items: Four (4) ink on paper drawings, including one (1) preliminary drawing for the oil painting previously listed; one (1) titled "The Foul Blow", depicting a boxer being restrained by a small group of men in the corner of a roped-off ring with his opponent on his knees clutching his abdomen surrounded by shouting audience members within a large theater having thick curtains; one (1) depicting two wrestlers with their hands pressing each other's faces crashing through the lower rope of the ring into a dense, enraptured audience; and one (1) depicting two men engaged in a bare-fisted boxing match within a roped-off ring on a beach surrounded by a massive audience with a dock house and coastline visible in the background. All signed "Arthur Sheppard" lower right and copyrighted lower left. "The Foul Blow" titled in pen below image lower center. All with additional number inscriptions to margins. All unframed. Sights ranging in size from 22" H x 29 1/2" W to 26 3/4" H x 35 3/4" W. Sheets ranging in size from 22" H x 30 1/8" W to 29 3/4" H x 38" W.

CONDITION: 1st item: Significant creasing and discoloration of canvas; craquelure and exfoliation of paint throughout, largest area measuring 3/4" x 3". 2nd-5th items: All with scattered creasing, toning, minute tack holes. All with slight tearing and losses to edges, largest tear measuring 2 7/8" L, largest loss measuring 1 1/8" x 3". Two with tape affixed, en verso.