Community Chat

[SaRina]

I like what @dooBdoo said about asking an art school professor (or someone who understands art materials and restoration) what might be used to clarify the signature without damaging anything. 

[gidgetgh]

---

@SaRina wrote:

... or maybe the top signature line is the complete date: 25 January 98

---

@SaRina- Gennaio is January in Italian.  And if you look at it, it could be Gennaio. Maybe you're on to something with that.  Thanks!

There's more writing on the other other side of the back of the painting. It's pretty much unreadable. 

[SaRina]

Yesss!!!  Brilliant!

[SeaMaiden]

@gidgetgh   This was a fun post!  I would be just as curious as you about it.   Sorry some posters  here came off as rude to you.  I feel the painting has a lot of history, at least in your family. I hope you can decide what you want to do with it and feel good about it. I personally would hold on to it and keep digging.....you just never know....it might be worth  a lot to the right person. 

[gracie2014]

@SaRina That is what I was thinking!

[SaRina]

Now I'm thinking... it doesn't make sense that the artist would sign the back of the canvas.... so if the top line is the date, then the bottom line might logically be the location, such as a region or province of Italy. 

Sorry if I missed it in an earlier post, but might the artist's signature be hidden under the frame at the bottom? Have you removed the frame?

[Bri36]

This has been a fun mystery thread.  LOL

We have some very clever posters here.

[gidgetgh]

---

@SaRina wrote:

Now I'm thinking... it doesn't make sense that the artist would sign the back of the canvas.... so if the top line is the date, then the bottom line might logically be the location, such as a region or province of Italy. 

Sorry if I missed it in an earlier post, but might the artist's signature be hidden under the frame at the bottom? Have you removed the frame?

---

@SaRina- getting it out of the frame is easy. No signature on the front. On the opposite side of the back there's some more writing, but it's really light. I'll try taking a picture of it and post it. 

I sincerely appreciate the helpful suggestions that have been given here. Sometimes you can look at something for so long that you run out of ideas. 

My great aunt traveled quite a bit in Europe and Asia and could have bought the painting there. Or she bought it at the frame shop locally from some stock paintings. Who knows. 

[Mersha]

---

@Burnsite wrote:

Hi, Gidget, It's a detail, as another poster has said, from a Velasquez painting, "The Triumph of Bacchus." I just checked it out on Google Images.

Here is my idea:  maybe put it on Ebay as a detail from that painting and that painter and a Velasquez fan might buy it? 

It might be that it is by a fine painter who was making the rent money by painting copies, but it seems unlikely if you've contacted auction houses.

At least if you connect it to Velasquez, you might get more interest.  Sorry I did not note the name of the QVC poster who identified it first--I wish the whole list displayed when we respond!

---

I think that is a great idea.  Ebay could be a great avenue to pursue.

It was most enjoyable to read this post and and everyone's ideas.

Please keep us updated on what you discover.

[Q4u]

How interesting!  You have really done your due diligence and from the responses you've received, that no one is really interested, I am assuming that the painting may not be extraordinary.  That doesn't mean it is without value, it certainly has value to someone who likes it.  

The very upper end houses you've contacted have personel that can look at a painting and "see" who might have painted it (style of a known artist) or if it might have been a student of said painter, but they are schooled and experienced in looking at a painting and being able to tell quite a lot.  Because of this lack of total lack of interest, I would now seek out someone who might be able to give you a value of the artwork as an antique AND to not forget the frame if there is one.  Often the frame can be worth more in monetary value than the actual painting.

So I would recommend asking someone locally (with an excellent reputation) who is an antique dealer specializing in antique artwork to look at your painting.  Get several opinions and then seek out a consignment shop with the best price.

Good luck....