Lot 2402

JOHN A. MOONEY (VIRGINIA, 1843-1918) NATURE MORTE STILL-LIFE PAINTING

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JOHN A. MOONEY (VIRGINIA, 1843-1918) NATURE MORTE STILL-LIFE PAINTING

Estimate: $500 - $800

Starting Bid: $250

(0 Bids)

by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates
June 27, 2026 9:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
2177 Green Valley Lane
Mt. Crawford, VA, US 22841

JOHN A. MOONEY (VIRGINIA, 1843-1918) NATURE MORTE STILL-LIFE PAINTING, oil on canvas, in the trompe l'oeil style, featuring ducks and other wildfowl suspended against a brick wall, upon which a "C. PARKER / PAT." cast-iron match safe hangs. Signed and dated lower right. Housed in a later frame. A January 16, 1953 newspaper article from the Richmond News Leader discussing a recent discovery of many unframed canvases in a Richmond attic is included with the lot, and described in more detail below in the Catalogue Note. Dated 1891. 25 1/2" x 18 1/2" sight, 31 1/4" x 23 1/4" OA.
Catalogue Note: Born in Buffalo, New York, John A. Mooney (1843-1918) traveled to Georgia to enlist in the Confederate Army at the outbreak of the Civil War. After the cessation of hostilities, he remained in the South and began painting professionally in earnest. He is know to have painted scenes in Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, DC. He died of tuberculosis in a Richmond, VA almshouse in 1918.
In the summer of 1952, a large number of Mooney's paintings were discovered in the attic of the Valentine house at 12 East Franklin St. by Richmond artist David Silvette (1909-1992) after Mrs. Norman V. Valentine mentioned that she was aware of "some old paintings" in her attic.
Evidently the paintings were placed in the attic shortly after the artist's death when Granville Valentine paid for Mooney's body to be interred in the Confederate Soldiers' section of Hollywood Cemetery as opposed to "Potter's Field" near the poor house. In 1953, after these paintings were rediscovered, the Valentine Museum had an exhibition of his works, in which this piece was possibly included. Pictured in the article appears to be one of Mooney's pieces sold through our firm (Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates, 12/2/2023, lot 2372).

  • Condition:

    Very good overall condition with the canvas having been relined; very minor scattered touch-up inpainting evident.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $29,999 $1,000
$30,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000