Queen Victoria painting. Any knowledge?

[marshastu]

I'm quite excited about this painting. I got it from a house clearance. It was in a frame behind a print and has a 1930's newspaper article stuck to the back. I wish I knew more about it so I thought I'd ask you guys. I have took a closer picture of the scribble on the corner, I can't understand what it says. It looks like an oil painting and it even has little splodges on the side where the paint has been mixed. Thanks

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n144/marshastu/painting002.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n144/marshastu/painting001.jpg

[alesoun]

Well, it's not a portrait of Queen Victoria. I don't suppose that's much help, though, is it?

I blew the image up to 200% and I can make out the word White at the end of the top line, and what might be Cap (something) Valent (?) and son on the second bottom line. It's a portrait of somebody wearing widow's weeds of the Victorian/Edwardian period.

Your best bet might be to do some research on local artists of that time in the area of the house clearance. Sorry I can't be any more help.

[marshastu]

Well, it's not a portrait of Queen Victoria. I don't suppose that's much help, though, is it?

I blew the image up to 200% and I can make out the word White at the end of the top line, and what might be Cap (something) Valent (?) and son on the second bottom line. It's a portrait of somebody wearing widow's weeds of the Victorian/Edwardian period.

Your best bet might be to do some research on local artists of that time in the area of the house clearance. Sorry I can't be any more help.

Thanks for your help :at: :ah: :aa: :an: :ak: :ay: :ao: :au:

[Elwell]

It's hard to tell from the quality of the jpeg, but it looks like a hand-tinted photo to me.

[chaosrocks]

i was thinking that too
and its definately
not victoria

[Flake]

Another vote for "tinted photo" theory.

[marshastu]

Thanks for looking everyone but I really don't think it is a tinted photo judging by the size of it and the fact that it is on thick card. I know that it is at least 77 years old as there is a sheet of newspaper stuck to the back of it dated 7th March 1931 (could the really have printed a photo onto card in those days and enlarged it?) Thanks

[emily g]

It's easy to enlarge a photo in a darkroom. I also think it is a tinted photograph.

[Elwell]

Most portrait photos in the late 19th century (which is what I'd date this lady to based on her clothing) were printed on heavy card stock.

[CCThrom]

In a darkroom with an enlarger you can print a photo directly at any size onto any surface that has been treated with photosensitive chemical. No modern technology required.

Such thick cardstock was very widely used. An artist would then work over the photograph with transparent inks or watercolor. Notice the modeling in her face is described with value and not with color. That's often the signature of a colored photo. While this work is clearly hand-painted, I highly doubt it is a "painting" as such... which should not in any way diminish your enthusiasm over a very cool find!

[marshastu]

OK, so I found another painting the same but of a man and this time the newspaper on the back was torn and there was a piece of paper stuck there stating the year 1888 and the names Barns & Bell (I tore the newspaper on the first one I found and the same is there) After doing some research I found out that they described themselves as art photographers and portrait painters. In the picture of the man I found there was a small black and white picture stuck in the corner of it of the man in the portrait as if that's what had been copied but in paint. Any more info would still be greatly appreciated. I still don't know whether they are tinted photographs or actual paintings but I am trying to find out more. Thanks

[alesoun]

Check out this website;
http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/PP/pp_brownbarnesbell_studios_and_dates.htm

If it's a photograph, they may still have the negative; if it's tinted in oils, they may have some record of the painting or the name of the subject. Either way, they're still good to have, and if you were thinking of selling them on, that site might be the place to find out more.

Good luck.

[Stoat]

There's a sort of portrait I saw very often in farm houses in the States. They were clearly some kind of photo/charcoal hybrid and late 19th/early 20th C. They were usually large, sepia and on heavy card stock. I've always wondered exactly how they were done.

[emily g]

Great link, alesoun. It looks like that company did tint many of their photos with oil pant.

They even have an example with instructions to the painter noting what colors to use:
http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/PP/pp_brownbarnesbell_instructions_for_painting_in_oi ls.htm