Sophie Mitchell Sold at Auction Prices

NAPA RIVER WATERCOLOR SOPHIE MARIE ALSTROM MITCHELL

Original Watercolor Napa River California Landscape by Sophie Marie Alstrom Mitchell (1858-1940). In gilt wood frame with mat measures 23 3/4"x19 1/2"x1". Weight 6 pds. Sophie Marie Alstrom Mitchell Sophie Marie Alstrom Mitchellwas born in Karlshamn, Sweden on Oct. 18, 1858. At age two Sophie moved with her mother to San Francisco where her mother soon wed Swen Alstrom, proprietor of the Oriental Hotel. The family then moved to Napa County where Mr. Alstrom had purchased the White Sulphur Springs Resort in St Helena.Sophie graduated from Napa Ladies’ Seminary in 1875 and then continued there as an assistant art teacher. At that school she developed a painting technique of applying transparent watercolor over a base of white paint which gave a translucent quality to her work. She also studied locally with Virgil Williams who maintained a country retreat near Mount St Helena.