(American, 1875-1933)

Steamboat in a Mississippi Flood, signed lower right "F.C. Yohn", charcoal and gouache on buff paper, sight 15-1/2 x 20-1/2 in.; painted and silver finished wood frame, 24-1/2 x 37-1/2 in. 

 Frederick Coffay Yohn was a well known historical illustrator, specializing in historical and military themes. His work appeared in periodicals including Scribner's Magazine, Harper's Magazine, and Collier's Weekly, and his illustrations were included in Jack London's A Daughter of the Snows, Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Dawn of a To-morrow and Henry Cabot Lodge's Story of the American Revolution. He designed the 2-cent US Postal Service stamp in 1929 to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of George Rogers Clark's capture of Vincennes and is best known for his painting of George Washington at Valley Forge. This work was possibly executed as a commission piece for a novella or short story, and likely published in Scribner’s or Harper’s.