Ralph Law paintings

The Howard Steamboat Museum has on display two Ralph Law paintings -- of the packet MORNING STAR and steam towboat ROBERT F. BRANDT. In my personal collection are Law originals of the steamers CINCINNATI, DELTA QUEEN and MISSISSIPPI. Also have Law prints of the DUBUQUE, DELTA QUEEN and a large one featuring the Streckfus steamer SAINT PAUL passing the towboat ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, that I purchased at the Becky Thatcher Book Shop in Hannibal, Missouri during a DQ visit in the 70's. Law painted much like (but not quite as good in my opinion) the late Dorothea Frye, with a detailed, photographic quality. I've heard that Law often included a nude somewhere in his work, but none of mine have any "nekkid" people (that I can detect anyway!) on deck or elsewhere. Two of them hung for many years in the Seabrook Funeral Home at New Albany --- and "Mr. Paul", a devout Methodist and gentleman in every way, would have had "none of that" in his long respected establishment!

I also have a file of news articles about Ralph Law, who died while shoveling snow in 1975, and his river paintings. Ruth Ferris told me that Mr. Law once visited her riverboat museum aboard the Str. BECKY THATCHER and showed some of his steamboat art that was for sale, as well as color slides of others he had done. Some months ago, Marie Groffel, St. Louis, posted on this site regarding two Law paintings she has for sale of Eagle Packet Company boats. Marie is the widow of John Groffel, who owned the RIVER QUEEN (ex-GORDON C. GREENE) and also submitted the successful bid ($35,110.) for the Str. MISSISSIPPI when she was sold at auction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Memphis in 1963.

Let me know how I can help!

Ralph Law Paintings:
(1) DELTA QUEEN - approaching Lock #43 below Louisville.
(2) CINCINNATI - later the PRESIDENT.
(3) MISSISSIPPI - now the BECKY THATCHER.

Here are images of the two Ralph Law paintings on display at the Howard Steamboat Museum.

(1) Steam towboat ROBERT F. BRANDT.
(2) Packet MORNING STAR.

Nice work. Are these watercolors?

Yes. Law did MANY steamboat and river paintings, most, but not all of them, of Upper Mississippi scenes and now in private collections.

Print I think

[QUOTE=Judy Patsch;18901]One of the presentations at this Saturday's Midwest Riverboat Buffs meeting will be on Ralph Law's paintings. The gentleman leading the discussion called me to see if I had any originals. Negative, just one print. Do any of you have any Law originals or prints, or have any information about him?[/QUOT

I think I have a print signed by Ralph Law..75-100
I want to know its qorth and what Steamboat it is.
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