Walter Shirley (b.1838-d.1909). a listed painter and illustrator who studied in Munich, Germany, where he met and befriended Frank Duveneck. Shirlaw was a founder and 1st president of the Society of American Artists, and a teacher at the Art Students League in New York. Shirlaw spent the years 1870-77 in Munich, at the height of the movement led by Wilhelm Leibl.

 This beautiful sketch is from his personal sketch book of 24 pages done in the Munich Germany countryside in the year 1873.
Signed by him with his initials S.W. and the date 73' on the lower left front corner. Nicely enclosed in a 16" x 20" paper board mat frame. Sketch is 10 1/4" x 13 5/8" (slightly larger then the mat window) The sketch's paper is hinged at the top edge of the reverse by two small pieces of white archival tape. (please see attached photos).  

 Condition is very fine with a few original light oil paint spots near the center and some light wear around the edges along with a just a few light splits of approximately 1". Condition overall is consistent with an almost 150 year old artist's sketch book. On the reverse is a taped on reproduction of the original front cover of the 24 page Munich sketch book from which this sketch came. It includes the (copied) signature of the artist and some other details. (please see attached photos).