Antique painting?

I was wondering if anyone had any insight into painting. It was picked up at an auction. It is appears to be on masonite? There isn't a signature that I can see.

Thank you!

 

A Victorian portrait of someone's great- great-. The frame and hardware look correct for period. Are the nails round or flat? Frame was originally gilded but now shows lots of wear. So does the canvas which is suffering from craquelure. If you weren't provided with information by auction house and unsigned, you're unlikely to be able to learn much more. Oh, and it should be oil on board. Masonite wasn't invented until 1924 (by a man named Mason of all coincidences.)

Debora

 

Thank you Debora! The nails are flat. The two larger nails at the top are flat shanked but have a round head. The auction company listed it as oil on board but said they did not specialize in art. I guess they didn't sign in this period art like they do now? Would a black light tell me anything?

Thank you for the information on masonite! It is so smooth I assumed it wouldn't be board. I am clearly not an art expert. But, I'm looking at some pictures online of some Victorian oil on board and they look very similar in the back. It was from a home in northern Virginia. I am rather fond of it. My young daughter says it scares her a little bit.

All the best,

Grant

 

I rather like it though his eyes would probably have scared my children when they were little too!

It's very darkened in your photos and I imagine it probably is in real life however have you given a look in very bright light, up close, at different angles to see if there is any sign of a signature?

 

You are right! It is his eye! I just tried a bright light at different angles and you see more definition in his suit but that is all I really noticed.

 

Victorian paintings aren't like Old Masters; there's no reason why it wouldn't be signed (or not) during that era. Have you examined the bottom carefully? If there's a signature, it might also appear beneath the frame. You should be able to date him more closely by his hair and clothing. If I had to guess, I'd think 1860-ishs. (Here's an 1860s photograph for comparison.) Oh, and you might want to consider that your portrait was created from a photograph. That could be one reason it isn't signed.

Debora

 

My first thought was painted from a photograph, or over one. They did both. It would explain the eyes.

 

Yes, it's rather inert and doesn't give the impression of being observed from life.

Debora

 

gramps of Kenny Craig.

 

Reminds me of John Brown in one of his more subdued moments ...... LOL!

 

why ? did he play with Kansas, too ?