Vintage Impressionist European Street Scene Oil Painting in Ornate Gilt Frame

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Description

A richly textured vintage original oil painting depicting an atmospheric European street scene, presented in an elaborate cream and gilt … Read more A richly textured vintage original oil painting depicting an atmospheric European street scene, presented in an elaborate cream and gilt frame.

The composition centers on a quiet old-world street lined with shops and multistory buildings, with two figures walking together through the foreground. Muted architectural tones of cream, gray, olive and brown are punctuated by vivid touches of turquoise, orange, red and yellow.

What makes the painting particularly appealing is its surface. The artist worked freely with both brush and palette knife, building substantial passages of impasto across awnings, market displays, rooftops and architectural details. Viewed from an angle, individual ridges and peaks of paint rise prominently from the canvas.

The two foreground figures are reduced to remarkably economical strokes of orange, turquoise, black and white, while fine linear marks define windows, street lamps and building façades. The combination gives the painting a lively impressionistic character that becomes increasingly interesting at close range.

The painting is signed in red at lower left. The signature appears to read “A. Witty” or similar, although the artist has not been conclusively identified. It is therefore offered as a signed original painting by an unidentified artist.

The substantial vintage frame is an important part of the piece. Sculptural floral, shell and foliate ornament is set against an aged cream ground with antique-gold detailing, surrounding an olive-green liner and narrow gilt inner molding. Natural rubbing and surface wear give the frame considerable patina.

At approximately 28 × 24 inches framed, the painting has substantial presence while remaining an easy size for a living room, study, entryway or collected gallery wall.

Details:
Original oil on canvas
Signed lower left; signature appears to read “A. Witty” or similar
Artist unidentified
European / continental street scene
Impressionistic brush and palette-knife technique
Pronounced impasto
Artwork approximately 19 × 15 inches
Framed approximately 28 × 24 inches
Ornate cream, gilt and olive-green vintage frame See less