Signed lower left, 'Sydney J. Yard' for Sydney Janis Yard (American, 1855 -1909) and painted circa 1905. Sydney Janis Yard was born 1855, in Rockford, Illinois where he first studied with George Robertson. He subsequently studied in London where he mastered English watercolor techniques under the instruction of the Royal Academician Sutton Palmer. In the 1880's Yard moved to California where he ran several photography studios in San Jose and Palo Alto with artist friend Andrew Putnam Hill. During this time he exhibited several paintings at the San Francisco Art Association. In 1904, Yard left San Jose and began dividing his time between studios in San Francisco and Carmel-By-The-Sea before settling permanently in Carmel in 1906. While living in Carmel, he exhibited with success at The Del Monte Gallery, as well as at numerous galleries in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sydney Yard is well-listed in all relevant art reference works including Who Was Who in American Art, 400 years of American Art and Edan Hughes 'Artists in California'. We are pleased to offer a delicate coastal view by this early California artist. Exhibition: San Francisco Art Association, 1896-1908; Starr King Fraternity (Oakland), 1905; Berkeley AA, 1908; Oakland Home Club, 1908; Alaska-Yukon Expo (Seattle), 1909; Del Monte Art Gallery, 1909-12. Reference: Artists in California 1786-1940, Third Edition, Edan Milton Hughes: Crocker Art Museum, Sheridan Books 2002, Vol. 2, page 1227; Who Was Who in American Art 1564-1975: 400 Years of Artists in America, Peter Hastings Falk, Sound View Press 1999, Vol. 3, page 3659; Scott A. Shields, Artists at Continent's End: The Monterey Peninsula Art Colony, 1875-1907; et al.