Old Unsigned Painting with Intriguing Clues on the Back

Hi all,

I wonder if anyone had any ideas on how I might progress my research into getting more information on a painting that I own. Any help at this stage would be greatly appreciated as I’ve more or less exhausted my own research options.

By way of brief background, I purchased a number of paintings about 5 years ago and included was this picture that I’m trying to get more information on. The painting is an oil on canvas of a bird in flight and has some age to it. Unfortunately, there is no signature on the picture but there are a number of marks on the back.

Specifically, I believe the following appears in white chalk on the back: “Lot 305/2”; “26/07/77”; “741181-4”. Also written in pencil is: “M132B”

Initially, having carried out extensive internet searches, I believed I had placed the painting to auction held by Christies in Ireland (where I’m based and where I bought the painting) on 25th and 26th of July 1977, (the second day of which would correspond with, what I believe to be, the date on the back). I was able to get a copy of the catalogue from that auction but unfortunately lot 305 (which is the lot number on the back) was a collection of 10 linen sheets!

I am now at a point where I‘m unable to get any further with my research. I feel that, with the information on the back of the painting, I should be able to get more details on it but as, matters stand, I’m at a loss to know what to do next. Any suggestions, ideas etc. would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time and any help.

 

good luck with your search....

imo.....the numbers on the rear are framers notations.....and will lead you nowhere.

I've never seen an auction house mark up a customers art work in such a rude manner.....

don't they always use tickets...

 

Hi,

Thanks very much for your reply.

I had never considered that the marks may have been made by the framers. As you say, if they are, it'll be very hard to make any progress.

Thanks again,

 

I like your painting. It’s something different with that main focus point. Also looks vintage to me. The head and neck area of the large bird or eagle looks a little odd to me and makes me wonder about the skill level of the artist (but I also don’t have a great knowledge of art) Is the shape of the spacers typical to ones you have seen before? Personally Iam not so sure that the Lot No. was not some auction no.. But who knows about those numbers.. The rest of the numbers is quite possibly the framers

 

Looks like auction house marks to me. This is a helpful resource for deciphering if you haven't already seen. (You've already done a lot of research.)

https://www.christies.com/features/8-things-you-can-learn-from-the-back-of-a-painting-10293-1.aspx

Debora

 

Thank you both for your help.

Boland, I agree, I always thought that the neck looked a bit strange. Without knowing a great deal about art myself, I imagined that the artist was trying to capture a sense of motion/flight and that the neck and head were painted in this way to convey such movement (if this was his/her aim, I'm not sure if it was entirely successful!).

Debora, that's a very useful link, thank you. I had seen it before and it mentions that other auction house (not Christies) use chalk to mark their inventory numbers on the back of paintings. It's from reading this article that I originally assumed that the marks on the back of my painting related to an auction house. The problem is I haven't had any luck in establishing who that auction house might be!

 

I wonder if it was cut from a larger painting. That would also explain why there is no signature, it looks like this would have been in or near the top right hand corner.

 

I personally couldn’t help much at all (sorry) I did search and had a look at some similar paintings. But I think without more leads it will be very difficult to ‘figure out’ It seems that you have spent a lot of time on this..But hopefully someone on the forum can still provide further insight.

 

I too thought it might be a fragment.

Debora

 

I think those grey blobs at the bottom could be rocks or mountain tops in the original picture.

 

Yes, snow covered mountains.

Debora

 

I personally don’t think that it was originally part of a larger painting (But maybe)

 

What is the size of the painting..

 

Agreed. To give the idea of soaring high over the mountains..

 

Hi all, thanks so much for all your responses.

The idea that it is cut from a bigger picture is something that hadn't occurred to me and it might well explain the slightly unusual composition and the lack of a signature. Also, having had a close look, it appears that the canvas the picture is painted is on, is stuck to another canvas (or canvas board) which is mounted on the stretcher. The painting itself measures 44cm in height and 62cm in length so if it was cut from another the original would have been fairly large.

Thanks again.

 

I just reread your first post and you mention you bought your work at Christie's. How was it described then? Has anyone identified the bird species?

Debora

 

I understood that he had traced it back to a Christies auction when he first researched it.

 

Ah... Read this as bought at Christie's but must mean bought in Ireland.

"...auction held by Christies in Ireland (where I’m based and where I bought the painting)..."

Debora

 

Yes, I think bought in Ireland, and traced back to Christies, Ireland.

 

Well explained. Thank you.

Debora