Early Fine Art Dealers specializes in valuing and purchasing important paintings from the 17th century through the early 20th century. Our buyers are in constant search for fine works of art and paintings, spanning the globe for original well-known Old Master, European, American, and early California art. Each year we preview and participate in hundreds of private sales, art shows, gallery showings, exhibitions and auctions. We are in constant search for fine works to purchase. Please contact us today to discuss the sale of one of your paintings. Please note that our gallery only deals with original paintings. No Prints Please.
WE ARE DEALERS OF ORIGINAL PAINTINGS: To contact one of our gallery fine art experts about selling your painting or buying paintings for your collection, complete the form below. Please note that our gallery only deals with original paintings. NO PRINTS PLEASE.
Harry Leslie Hoffman (1871 - 1964)
Harry Leslie Hoffman was an artist associated with the Old Lyme art colony and a persistently creative individual who later became known for his paintings of the underwater world. He was known as a particularly witty and entertaining man by his peers and forged deep friendships with many of the Old Lyme colony artists over the seasons he spent at the colony as both a student and, later, a respected professional.
Hoffman arrived for his first season at Old Lyme in 1902. Being a student, he was not allowed to board at the Griswold house but became a familiar face among the other artists as he dined at the mansion almost nightly.
Once he became fully-recognized and accepted among the other Old Lyme artists, he devoted himself to their Impressionist leanings. He was quite a talented artist, and he would define himself later in life by painting underwater scenes using a bucket as an impromptu diving helmet. He travelled along with scientific expeditions to the Galapagos Islands and Bermuda.
Harry Leslie Hoffman led an interesting life, including passing up a career as a professional baseball player and being mistakenly arrested as a spy while sketching in Spain during his 1910 honeymoon.