Reginald Marsh, N. A. (1898-1954) was born in Paris to American-born artist parents. Influenced by urban realists John Sloan, George Luks and Kenneth Hayes Miller, Marsh became a member of the Ashcan School, pursuing his passion for depicting people, especially those on the fringes of society, going about their everyday business. His subjects often included show business characters - not theatre stars but those of burlesque and night clubs - and people on the street, in subways, railroad stations and other urban settings. Marsh worked in oils, tempera, watercolor and was also a printmaker and muralist. He was elected to the National Academy in 1943, and is listed in Boswell, Britannica, Craven, Cummings, Fieldings, Mallet, Davenport's and Who's Who.

This painting was purchased from the estate of Bedrich Vasha, world renowned Czech master of the cello, and friend of Antonin Dvorak. Vaska eventually settled in the United States, and lived in the Worcester, Massachusetts area for some time. The painting was purchased after the death of his wife last year. It is being offered as attributed to Reginald Marsh, which means that although we believe the painting to be by the artist, we cannot state with certainty that it is. The painting has been cleaned and relined for stability, with about two percent inpainting near the bottom; the painting is 98 percent original.