Boris B. Major — Two Venetian Scenes c.1930 (Matched Pair of Oils on Board)
Boris B. Major — Two Venetian Scenes c.1930 (Matched Pair of Oils on Board)
A captivating matched pair of original oil paintings by Boris B. Major (1876–1951) — Venetian harbor scenes with colorful sailing boats at rest on the lagoon, rendered in Major's signature Impressionist style with warm earthy tones, soft atmospheric light, and characteristic dotted impasto brushwork.
Both panels are signed lower left "B. Major" and depict fishing or excursion boats with red, orange, and purple sails against the distinctive aqua-green waters of Venice. The diffused light captures that transcendent Venetian quality — equal parts Canaletto tradition and early-20th-century Impressionist inheritance — where water and sky seem to dissolve into one another. The reflections in the water are particularly masterful, showing Major's close observation of the lagoon's unique optical qualities.
A Direct Record of Major's 1929–31 European Journey
These paintings almost certainly date to — or were made shortly after — Major's documented 1929–1931 two-year trip to Europe and North Africa, during which he completed nearly 50 oil paintings and more than 60 watercolors en plein air. The itinerary included Venice, Jerusalem, Algiers, Fez, and Cairo. Small oil-on-board format was Major's preferred medium for plein-air work on this journey: portable, direct, and responsive to changing light. Paintings produced on this trip represent the artist's peak engagement with Mediterranean and North African light and color.
Why Buy as a Pair
Originally sold together at Sandwich Auction House (South Yarmouth, MA) as Lot 74, these two small oils are a naturally coherent diptych — matched hand, palette, subject, and period frames. Ideal for a home bar, library niche, narrow wall, coastal cottage, dining room, or as a signature piece above a small desk or console. The small framed size (8.5 × 6.5 inches each) makes them suitable for spaces where larger works cannot fit, while the quality of execution gives them outsized visual presence.
About Boris B. Major (1876–1951)
Boris B. Major was born Berko Mesherowsky in Elisabethgrad, Russia (now Kirovograd, Ukraine) on May 31, 1876. He studied art in Russia and later at the Academy of Art in Munich, Germany. He immigrated to the United States in 1906, arriving in New York aboard the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, and was granted American citizenship in 1911 — at which point he officially changed his name to Boris Major. He established his studio in New Rochelle, New York, just a few blocks from Norman Rockwell's own studio, and exhibited at the Montclair Museum in New Jersey. From 1910 to 1959, his works were featured and distributed nationwide by Edward Gross & Company, a New York publishing house.
About the Work
Major is best known as a landscape painter and portraitist with a distinctive Impressionist sensibility — warm earthy palettes, atmospheric light, and the characteristic dotted impasto brushwork of his European training. In 1929–1931, Boris and his wife Anna undertook a two-year journey to Europe and North Africa, during which Major completed nearly 50 oil paintings and more than 60 watercolors — all done en plein air. Cities visited included Venice, Jerusalem, Algiers, Fez, and Cairo. His Venetian paintings from this trip are particularly prized, capturing the light and color of the Italian lagoons and canals at a transformative moment in his career.
Scarcity & Market Context
Venetian scenes are among his most commercially desirable subjects — the combination of Impressionist aesthetic with a universally beloved destination makes them consistent sellers at both auction and gallery level. Paintings with Wally Findlay Gallery labels (a premier Boris Major dealer) carry provenance premium. Smaller 'gem' pairs under 10 inches are increasingly popular with collectors building a tightly curated collection.
Institutional Holdings
Documented in the Smithsonian Institution records, the Montclair Art Museum and Public Library archives (where Major exhibited during his lifetime), and the askART and AAA (Archives of American Art) Russian-American artist databases. The artist's biographical record is maintained through the archival work of family members and the Iowa-based Boris Major Artist project.
Dimensions
Each oil on board 7 × 5 inches. Each framed 8.5 × 6.5 inches. Sold as a matched pair.
Frame: This piece ships framed. The frame is included in the listed dimensions above. Please see product images for a direct representation of the frame's condition and style.
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Important Buyer Notice
These pieces are antique originals, ranging from approximately 100 to over 400 years old. Each piece will show varying degrees of age-appropriate condition: paper toning, foxing, edge wear, fold marks, minor restoration, light staining, and other natural signs of age are common and expected for works of this period. Condition varies from piece to piece.
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