Well, this small, old painting with a wooden frame has quite a tale handwritten on its backside. A little history, a little geography, a little genealogy, and perhaps a little bit of storytelling!. It is an old treasure from the Medio Creek and Gas Ridge area to the west of San Antonio in Bexar Co, Texas.
The scene is of the Old Covell House on Covell Ranch which was built in the 1880's. The big old oaks, ranch house and bluebonnets are quintessential Hill Country. The painting was lovingly gifted to Lillian Mathilda Covell from the artist, Otelia Schirmer, before the Covell family moved into "the new house" built in the 1930's (we are told they kept the original "big rock" from the front yard and buried it in the ditch.)
also-
-2000 acres of hill country land and the original 1880's homestead owned by George Covell
- gold hunting in California
-returning to find land robbers stole 1600 of those acres
-dairy and cattle farming
--old Grandfather Samuel George Covell born in England in 1864 and Grandmother Mathilda born in Texas in 1864
-Henry Buck Schirmer, Aunt Tina Meyer, Aunt Annie Gallaway
-a fire
-'the boys" Bill and John sleeping in the outer house behind the Mesquite trees in the picture
-and...Grandma and the kids hiding from some horse thieves who rejected their horses because they were too old!
Purchased from a location just outside of San Antonio (Seguin), about 50 miles from the the original homestead area. Painted in the 1930's with a thin, slightly ornate wooden frame. Dates in commentary range from 1860's to 1980's. Measures 13x7 inches.
Please see photos for condition and zoom to read. Ask any questions you may have. Thanks.