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Antiques & Collectibles

Can anyone(aka Linda) tell me what this picture is all about?

Richard Dollard

12 years ago

We picked this up at an estate sale several years ago and just going to hang it now. I took it out of the frame last night to clean it up and have a new backer board put on. My thoughts are maybe it is Queen Victoria in the center and it's victorian but not sure. It's not signed expcept for the number 40 in the lower right oorner. Thanks, Richie

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Comments (12)

palimpsest
12 years ago
The style is older, 18th-early 19th c. and is an arabesque patterned "decor" or "panneux". The central figure and other elements are probably allegorical. Don't know how old it really is or if it is hand-tinted, things like that.
sombreuil_mongrel
12 years ago
Would not the Queen have been depicted with orb and sceptre?
Could it be part of a set of goddesses, muses, or seasons?
Maybe the pig, swan and fountain are significant. And the thing at the top that looks like a webcam!!!
(I know, it's an urn tipped toward the viewer)
Casey
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Your house was built before 1870, but after 1820. It could be called 'Italianate' from its paired windows on the second floor. It could also be called "Folk Victorian" . The length of the windows, the window casings with their small hoods are all early Victorian. The window panes (2/2) are probably renovations from the early 1900's. Its eaves, which extend straight out with no returns back to the main house, are Italianate, or 'Romantic' - a reaction to so many years of 'Colonial' architecture in the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. You can see that the builder is still thinking in terms of 'Colonial' symmetry but beginning to use the frills ( bay windows, paired windows, fancier door and window casings) that became so popular in the later Victorian years. The bay windows and the porch make it more likely to have been built closer to the 1850's. Also the newel post in the second slide is made from one log, turned on a lathe - very popular from the late 1830's to the 1860's. However your other stair railing, balusters and the fireplace mantles are the style of the 1830's. I know a similar hand rail (how lovely it is to look at and to feel in the hand!) built by a factory owner in 1838. The iron fence is probably later, early 1870's, as are the spindles (the little turned pieces up next to the roof) on the back porch. See if you can find a copy of Asher Benjamin's pattern book published in 1830 or 1827. He was a very popular architect whose books were copied by local carpenters all over the US. The 1827 and 1830 editions have illustrations very similar to your pictures. Also you might enjoy 'A Field Guide to American Houses' by the McAlesters.
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Can anyone please help me identify this or tell me anything about it?
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Comments (13)
Nice, and really unique. You will just have to keep your eyes open for something that will work with that. Take the measurements down for what will work, you may get lucky and find something. The mirrors got separated on those vanities for hanging separately or just got broken. If you can find something maybe a simple round mirror with a black frame would work hanging on the wall above it. Before you try and strip and refinish check out re-amalgamation of varnish finishes. Google term or go to YouTube. Hint, if you can use this technique do it with a light hand if you want to retain patina. Also, don't remove patina from the drawer handles, just remove and give them a good scrub with soap and water. Here is one of many videos...I've used what is called mineral spirits, it's called whatever the guy uses in England, same stuff. Just check out YouTube videos. https://youtu.be/F9SsSF1Qv_Q Maybe not even use steel wool as this guy recommends. First try a gentle approach with a white cotton cloth dipped in mineral spirits. The process basically disolves the varnish, removes some, then the varnish re-hardens/drys. It happens rather quickly too. That is if it's natural varnish that was used, which is more likely than not. Doing a test spot will quickly tell you if it is varnish rather than polyurethane, basically nothing much will happen to finish if poly.
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lindac
12 years ago
What Pal said...allegorical, but for what I don't know. Perhaps something like "home" or "love" or "fertility"...
I see lots of classical figures....the fountain on the dolphin tails, seated woman ( perhaps the Madonna?) with draped blue gown, birds holding a garland etc.
Victoria would never be depicted in any sort of dishabille....classical drapery or not...My God....that's a LEG showing!!!! Never!! LOL!
Likely a hand colored litho but can't tell without a closer look. What did the back look like? Paper?
Linda C
Richard Dollard
Original Author
12 years ago
Funny me for thinking Victoria might show some leg. I wonder if her husband ever saw any...LOL. Nothing on the back, it's adhered to the old cardboard. The whole point of me taking it all apart and cleaning it is also to get that old cardboard off. Luckily there is no foxing yet. Thanks everyone!
Richard Dollard
Original Author
12 years ago
what do you think are the things hanging after the bull?
sombreuil_mongrel
12 years ago
I think they are, roughly, torches; they look like newel posts!
Casey
jemdandy
12 years ago
It is filled with decorative details. At the top, there are blue birds of happiness; A little cherub is about to fly into her face or adjust her gown. It could be an illustration based on Greek Mythology. The goose/swan on the water of the fountain suggests a formal garden scene.
Fori
12 years ago
I think she represents spring.

Although she looks a little like a prissy version of Lippi's music lady--any of those weird objects look musicy?:

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.lib-art.com/part/showimg.php?id=12945
lindac
12 years ago
There's the lyre on the obligatory stag's head....pan pipes and another sort of a tooter.....and of course cherubs preparing for a ride on the swan.
Fillipino Lippi's known as the painter of ugly feet!....and starched drapery!
sombreuil_mongrel
12 years ago
Methinks you mean Fra (as in brother, he was a monastic) Filippo Lippi AKA "Lippo" Lippi. I think he gave a lot of "lip".
Casey
Richard Dollard
Original Author
12 years ago
I think I said spring too here at home. Thanks!
lindac
12 years ago
No...I meant Fillipino Lippi....son of Fra Filippo Lippi....monastic or not....and his mother was a nun....they say.

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