Help with signature on oil painting and possible age.

I can't make out this signature around the base of the tree. In some photographs I can see what looks like letters written in pencil in the lower corner under the tree signature.

The frame appears to be older. The painting looks like it was painted on canvas glued to hardboard/Masonite. Hardboard was first used in the early 1920s. Do you think the frame is from that time period or was it recycled. The frame 40" x 31", painting 30" X 20". As you can see I haven't finished cleaning the frame. The dust was so thick, at least 1/8" inch, that I was surprised how bright the gold was when I started cleaning this. Thank you in advance for your help.

 

This is really, really amateur. If you can't read it, you'll never know. I kind of like it, the colors, but you are talking naive art here - very naive.

 

I actually bought it for the frame and never got around to cleaning it up. Now that I have it up where I can work on the cleaning and see it more often, it has actually grown on me. Someone thought a lot of it to put it in such a grand frame.

 

I thought the same about them putting it in a frame like that. It really makes the colors come out. I believe I see ?EX???? Maybe a "L" in front of the EX.

 

It may be a Y instead of an X.

 

I don't think that the paint at the base of the tree is a signature. I can see the letters Armando is seeing, and do think that is probably a signature.

Mill Cove, are those the letters you wrote that you can see in some photographs? Does that mean that you can't see the letters (the -EX) when you are looking at it in person?

 

Here's another try. ?EYO?? Wish I could help out more. Just like any painting, it may look ametuerish but who knows, it may be an early work or later work in their career.

 

I didn't notice those faint letters until I looked at the photograph. I cleaned some of the dust away and now I can see them slightly better. I thought the green at the base of the tree was a signature like Coro BFW ???

My old camera takes better close-ups, I will try and get a better picture of the faint letters.

 

I hope I'm not bothering you with my replies. How is the painting anchored to the frame? Is it nailed or stapled? If nailed, what do the nails look like? That would give a little clue.

 

What I'm sort of thinking I'm seeing is something like J E Young then below that probably a year starting with '. Maybe

 

To me, the painting around the base of the tree appears to be just grass. That's just my opinion.

 

I was also thinking "Young" on the name too.

 

I don't really have much to add about this but have a question. I see this is painted on the textured side of masonite. I find this from time to time with amateur paintings and have always wondered why the artist would use this side to paint on. I have seen it often enough that I don't think it just an anomaly. Was this a trend? Did a particular school of art or book writer advocate this? Did they just think the textured side emulated canvas? I find it distracting when viewed close on and would think it an effect that most would not appreciate.

 

They use the textured side because it seems more like a fabric weave - ersatz canvas.

 

Some artists, even today, glue canvas onto masonite and other woods. When I had the time to paint, I preferred the smooth surface.

Amando, I don't mind at all. I appreciate the help and all the thoughts and opinions.

If I use a bright light, the faint lettering just disappears. This blurry photo gave me the best shot of the letters. LOL. It is snowing right now so I can't use natural light and the artificial light isn't helping.

Maybe I'm seeing things but the green blurry area above looks like 884 or R 84


Two other people, who saw this up close and personal, also think the green is a signature. It is very deliberate and different from all the other areas of paint. Here is it in different light angles which helps to show how raised and thick it is. Sorry about the disgusting dirt. I'm cleaning my way down from the top. I wonder how long this sat untouched to accumulate this much dust?

 

Amando, in the original post, the third photograph shows the nails in the back. I will try and get a better photo.

 

Hi,
You can really clean the frame by using a soft paint brush dipped into rubbing alcohol or cheap vodka. Just do not redip the brush with out rinsing it off. It is amazing how much brighter the gold will get. I think the frame is much older than the painting.
greg

 

Ditto!!

 

I do see what you might be talking about under the tree. I can't make it out, as it kind of runs together. I see Lori, Coro,Cori,??? It could be the painted signature of the same signature below it. The list can go on. I feel almost confident that it might have the year of 44 or 64 but not 100% sure. I changed up the pic and I think this is the best I can get it. All this is speculation. I hope it helps.

I do agree with you that this anamolly is out of place as it appears that the other single standing trees don't have this feature. If it were grass, I would assume that all single trees would show this detail.

 

I thought the green part was supposed to be leaves.

But, if it's a signature, great!