Antique Folk Art Oil Portrait of a Child, Circa 1890–1910

Details

Description

Wonderful antique oil-on-canvas portrait of a young child, dating to the late Victorian or Edwardian period, circa 1890–1910.

Painted in … Read more Wonderful antique oil-on-canvas portrait of a young child, dating to the late Victorian or Edwardian period, circa 1890–1910.

Painted in a wonderfully naïve, folk-art manner, the portrait depicts a solemn young child in period clothing against a dark, atmospheric background. The expressive face, restrained palette, and somewhat primitive painting style give the work tremendous character and make it an especially interesting example of vernacular portraiture from the turn of the century.

The painting is unsigned. The reverse reveals an aged wooden stretcher, coarse woven canvas, numerous old tacks, oxidation, and wear consistent with considerable age. A handwritten “33” appears on the reverse and is believed to be an old inventory, auction, or collection number rather than a date.

An unusual and wonderfully evocative antique portrait with the imperfect, timeworn character sought after in collected European, folk-art, Victorian, and Old World interiors.

Original oil on canvas.

DIMENSIONS

20.25” H × 15” W See less