Antique Cortes painting

Hi again, i bought this painting today from my freind
What are your comments?
Abdel,

 

it looks damaged.....
Not something I'd hang in my bedroom....

 

The painting looks 1950s at the earliest - by an amateur - and it's in terrible condition. I hope you didn't pay much.

 

And, sorry, but it looks like he's got a 'shiner' on his right eye!!! Likely he made somebody mad!!!!!

 

Please post a photograph of the back and a close-up of the canvas texture on the back.

 

Does anyone else think that the very detailed head and face is not in keeping with the rest of the image? Looks like a copy of a photograph (the head and shoulders only) with the rest just made up by whoever painted it.

 

That technique of a very dark background and partial foreground is known as Chiaroscuro. There was a period during the Victorian era where photographs were used to paint portraits using this technique, although, the technique dates back to the Renaissance. That's why I asked to see the back. From the damaged areas, the canvas appears to be older.

 

I know this doesn't help, Abdel, but I don't know where you are. Where (in general terms) did you get this portrait?

It has a very uncanny resemblance to one of my son's 3rd great grandfathers (on his father's side.) The minute I saw it, I had to go look at the couple of photos I saved via other family members and that only reinforced my feeling. (He was definitely well-enough off to have his portrait painted, although this one still looks like it was done after the fact from a photograph.)

 

Hi, I founf this painting in nrth of morocco.
i got picture of the back of painting, Hope it will help you

 

I still need a photo of the back of the entire piece including the wood stretcher that the canvas is stretched on.

 

I can find only one reference to Miguel Horta in Barcelona. A 1925 issue of 'La Publicitat' magazine, indicates it was a librería or book store. Assume also sold art supplies.

Debora

 

If the stretcher and back of the canvas appear to be what I think it might be, that 1925 date helps. Most of these types of paintings from photographs were done in the late 1800's through the early 1900's.

 

Another clue is street name is in Spanish, not Catalan. Not sure what dates that would provide us. Gonna see if I can find out...

Debora

 

Well, after 1939, of course. But wondering if banned for a period before then too...

Debora

 

I think the painting belongs of a well-known spanish military personnel of 17th century, As my dealer said before...

 

After some (very) quick internet research, I find Catalan was declared an official language of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931. Can't find when street names went back and forth between Catalan and Spanish though.

Debora

 

There is nothing 17th century (that's the 1600s) about your painting or military about the sitter. He appears to be an illustrious citizen -- a doctor or some such -- of the late 1800s or early 1900s. I'd put him in the early 1900s.

Debora

 

I agree. The late 1800's to early 1900's. There are some people who are better dating the wood stretchers by the construction. Hopefully, they will see this.

For some reason, these paintings seem to damage more easily. I don't know if it was the black pigments that they used back then or maybe, they did some type of photo sensitive light transfer directly to the canvas which weakened the canvas fibers. I have a painting with damage, not quite as bad as your painting but similar failure to the canvas.