Featured SMALL ANTIQUE PAINTING SIGNED JEN ANYTHING SPECIAL?

I went to pick up a large 80s floor lamp I won over week-end at a auction house & saw this painting - I asked the guy what he'd take for it & he told me $35, so I bought it.
Surprisingly, there are a lot of responses to googling "painting signed Jen"!
Also, it has a Hoffman Art Store sticker on the frame; the frame & canvas to me looked a lot older than when stickers were put on frames?
Any thoughts? Asking because last few I've gotten that I thought were winners turned out to probably be 'factory art'!
Thanks all; I appreciate any help.

 

Well, as for dating, I found a reference to Hoffman's Art Store in the Aug 10, 1927 edition of The Bridgeport (CT) Telegram. (The paper is online but requires a subscription to view.)

At the time, the store had just finished cleaning & restoring the artwork for Bridgeport's public library, including a portrait of P.T. Barnum.

That at least gives a hint at when the company was in business.

If I locate more info, I will post it.

 

You have it, and I don't, but it looks more like JEJ in the photo.

 

I agree...looks like JEJ...

 

I looks to me like there might be more after the JEJ or whatever that is, just below it to the side.

If you dampen it slightly is the sig clearer?

 

Should I use a damp cloth? just water?

 

Could be Trumand Edmund Fassett - his signature(TEJ) sometimes looks like JEJ - in fact I found a site that lists his name under JEJ - the last letter could be an F - with asset following.

http://www.findartinfo.com/english/Monogram/Result?keyWord=JEJ

http://www.askart.com/artist/Truman_Edmund_Fassett/104839/Truman_Edmund_Fassett.aspx

 

Work looks Victorian, a bit early for his dates.

Debora

 

He was born in 1885 - wouldn't that be about right as a artist for this?

 

This one was signed T.E. Fassett - could that be what last name is on mine?
http://www.skinnerinc.com/auctions/2635B/lots/501

 

He didn't graduate college until 1909.

Debora

 

Straightened and equalized color channels a bit...

~

 

I think right off the bat the signatures don't look to match - but to my eye it might not be out of the realm of possibility. To me this style wouldn't be completely out of line with what I see of the Fassett's works online - but again - a bit out of my range to say one way or the other.

 

can you see last name?

 

Thank You!

 

Hey guys I found this! Could painting be portrait of his daughter? She looks very similar to the girl in my painting!
http://www.maryfassett.com/biography.htm

 

I think you need to be cautious with this. So far there is nothing to link your painting to Fassett -- not style, not signature, not period.

Debora

 

I know, that's why I'm asking

 

I don't know if there is any chance but do you think it could be John E Weis? I'm on my phone and searching isn't so easy