Collecting R. Atkinson Fox Prints
Who is R. A. Fox? How can i find out more about his art? Today we’re learning about vintage art prints, famous for their country scenes.
Have you ever seen this type of vintage artwork, maybe on an old calendar, or in a beautifully adorned antique frame? Chances are, it most likely was done by turn of the century artist, Roger Atkinson Fox, or one of his alias names. Today you’ll learn more about him and his very popular vintage art. Enjoy reading Collecting R. Atkinson Fox Prints.
My collection of R.A. Fox prints has slowly grown through my years of vintage shopping. I don’t hang them permanently on my walls, but rather rotate them to different rooms, depending on the seasons.
My collection focuses on garden-wrapped cottages, and I love to bring them out in the Spring. You can see how I displayed them on an old schoolhouse window in “Spring Home Tour with a Garden Theme.” I also decorated with a few in “How to Decorate to Thrift the Look, Garden Inspired Decor”. The antique frames are as pretty as the art itself and works wonderfully when styled with old garden tools.
Collecting R. Atkinson Art Prints
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Many R. A. Fox prints feature Monet-like, pastoral scenes. English cottages, old barns, lazy rivers and pretty pastures are the idyllic subject matter. Farm animals and farmers working their fields add to the natural life-in-the country beauty. Adding to the beauty of the art is the ornate, detailed frames they are usually in. Most of the frames I’ve picked up have a predominantly green color scheme, with aquas, yellows and grays.
Who was Robert Atkinson Fox?
My favorite frame with the pretty cottage is the only print that features the artists name, Robert Atkinson Fox, which I learned, is not unusual. R. A. Fox (1860-1935) was born in Ontario, Canada. He left home in his teens to study art. He began earning his living as a portrait artist. Sometime in his 20’s he traveled to Europe, where he was obviously influenced by their use of of soft, subtle colors to create tranquil, natural scenes.
Tranquil, Country Scenes
In the late 1800’s, he moved to New York where his paintings were well received. His strength was Naturalism, painting mostly landscapes and rural themes. Cows, sheep, dirt roads, gardens and trees were his comfort zone, but when 1900 arrived and colorful images were being used in print prolifically, he became a sought after illustrator.
The “Golden Age of Illustration” saw companies producing calendars, posters, postcards, and various advertising material, and R.A. Fox became a very busy artist. He settled his family of 8 children in New Jersey so he could be near his clients. A hard worker, he was definitely not a starving artist. He painted everyday in his studio, and often completed a painting a day.
An Artist by Any Other Name…
Painting was income, and it didn’t bother him if his name was not on his work. Many times, at the request of the publisher, he would use a pseudonym. Experts guess that between 16, and possibly up to 40 different names were used on his paintings. In the editing and printing process, publishers would also remove his name. He used this to his advantage, being able to work for competing companies. The publishers liked it, because it looked like they had a whole team of artists.
Over 1000 prints have been documented to be painted by R.A.Fox. After looking through the gallery of the R.A. Fox Society webpage, I think I have even more of his work around my house than I realized, including pictures of Jesus, and adorable children and birds.
What’s frustrating is we won’t really know which are his or which are from another artist! But good for him that he wasn’t a starving artist. There was demand for his work and he made the most of his talent.
Find and Shop R. A. Fox prints HERE.
If you collect this beautiful vintage framed art, I hope you enjoyed learning more about the artist and his work! Collecting R. Atkinson Fox Prints is a wonderful decorating staple; thanks for reading! If you enjoyed your visit, become an Insider to keep the inspiration flowing!
I am down sizing, and wish to sell my R Atkinson Fox collection. I have 15-20 prints most in original frames and it very good condition. I tried selling on Marketplace but no one was interested. Any suggestions as to a good website to sell them?
Mary, maybe give Ebay a try? Otherwise you could possibly sell them on consignment at a local antique or secondhand shop. They would charge a percentage of the sale price. You could also give Marketplace another try; sometimes it’s the time of year, etc. Definitely put them in the antique section. Good luck!
Thank you, Lora~ We enjoyed learning more about this artist. We have our Grandfather’s print “As Twilight Approaches” but didn’t know anything about R.A. Fox aka: Arthur DeForest:)
So glad you enjoyed it! Sounds like you have a treasure:)
I have had a favorite painting in my home for 40 years, and I just found its name and artist. Oceans Roar by R. A. Fox. All I have seen of this painting are colored, mine is sepia, which I love! Can you give me anymore infor.ation? Thank you.
Sounds beautiful! Sorry, Alice, I don’t have any more information than I’ve shared here.
My husband was a member of the R A Fox Society and a huge collector of his prints. I am not sure how many but I know it is over a thousand, framed and unframed. My husband has passed away and I am wanting to sell his collection of Fox prints and other artist prints he collected. Please contact me if interested. Thanks
Sounds like an amazing collection! An online auctioneer could probably help you with the sale of them. Good luck!
I have a 1912 calendar with a print of beavers chewing on trees, by R Atkinson Fox entitled “The First Lumberman”. The painting may have been commissioned by the Beaver Lumber Company, as it was given out by the Beaver Lumber Company to its patrons in 1912. It’s in very good condition.
That sounds like a treasure! I think I have seen that picture somewhere; sounds familiar.
I have the picture with the cottage by the lake with a few ducks and 2 sheep in the grass. Think they were my great aunt’s.
The frame is very ornate!
That’s such a pretty one! Lucky you!
I have a plaque that my mom recieved as an award from her church when she was young in 1942. It has a print of Jesus overlooking Jeruselem. I’ve always loved the muted blues and greens. It may be by RA Fox, as I found one just like it through the link you posted. My grandfather (born in 1901) must have been a fan since he also painted in the same style, with muted blues and greens.
Wow, your grandfather must have been quite the painter! I think I have that same Jesus picture; I should bring it out for Easter!
I have inherited an original painting of a mountain lion signed Elmer Lewis which I have learned is one of the names R.A. Fox painted under. I’m curious to know the value.
How cool, Heather! I enjoy the decorative value of these pieces, but honestly am not in the field of valuing antiques. Probably poking around the internet is going to be your best bet, or going to antiques roadshow;) I would think the fact yours is an original would give it more value. But it is sometimes hard to get to the right person to talk to. Good luck!
I recently bought 2 of his framed art in AZ,at an estate sale. The man had inherited numerous antiques from an aunt who passed away. He didn’t know the value of any of her treasures, but were possibly dates back into the 1920’s. Are they worth any excess amount of $. One only,has a label in the back. It is called The Land Where the Shamrock Grows. It has 1929 written in ink. Thank you for your help
I honestly am not sure, Teresa. I love them more for their decor value for myself. You could check on Ebay and see what his prints are going for. Unless it’s an original painting, I wouldn’t guess “excess” amounts. I am definitely not an expert on value; decorative value is where it’s at for me:)
Thanks, Fonda. I guess true art’s beauty can be enjoyed whether one knows the real artist or not! Thanks for commenting.
I understand why you collected that kind of art. It’s so peaceful and calm. It’s too bad you can’t identify what is Fox’s and what isn’t, but what you have shown here are all lovely and seem to have been painted by the same hand.