Identify the Mystery Picture!
Thursday June 7, 2007
Reader Kevin has twice posted in the Art History Forums that he keenly desires to identify a painting that caught his attention during a trip to Waterford City, Ireland. My attempts to play girl detective have been for naught, so I am calling in the heavy hitters (you!). Here is everything we've got on the painting thus far:
Known
- It hangs in the lobby/lounge area of the Arlington Lodge.
- It has hung there for "quite a while," according to the desk clerk. (My note: this structure was built early in the 18th century, so there's a fair amount of leeway in the phrase "quite a while.")
- It depicts the goddess Diana (Artemis).
- It is supposed to have been painted by a "very famous artist" Kevin reports, again, according to the desk clerk.
- The name of this very famous artist.
- The name of the painting.
- Its date of execution.
- If it is an enlarged detail of some other painting.
- Whether or not it is a reproduction.
UPDATE: Mystery Solved!
- And the winner is: Taryn Clifford, who identified this as a probable copy of Jules Louis Machard's (French, 1839-1900) Sélène (1874). All hail Taryn.
- Kevin, meet Taryn. Taryn, Kevin. Email me for more formal details. You two have some dinner arrangements to make.
- Ha. I was barking up the wrong goddess. We were after Selene. (Don't even get me started on Selene, impregnated at least 50 times by an eternally-sleeping shepherd boy.)
Comments
It has the clean/roman quality of Jacques Louis David or Ingres but to me
The colors and handling of the paint suggest early twentieth century-plus the theme and strong design quality are reminiscent of the Art Deco Period.
my guess is anywhere from 1900-1920
I am no way an expert, so it’s just a feeling. I could be way off though:)
It has the look of Maxfield Parrish who illustrated Poems of Childhood by Eugene Field ca. 1900.
Appreciate the comments, Brian and Mary. I’m nearly as obsessed as Kevin is by now. It’s *great* to have added input. Thank you!
I was thinking Academic, post-Pre-Raphaelites, definitely not Art Nouveau … maybe Golden Age of Illustration? (Except that there wasn’t exactly a ton of full frontal nudity in illustration 100 years ago.) I –honestly– have no idea who might have painted it or even when, really.
I can’t identify it with any artist,
however, I feel that it is later than
1930. I see the influence of Art Deco
and the Pre-raphaelites in the theme.
Yet the sharp contrasts and the staging
of the figure suggest someone from the
1940’s. It would be helpful to know more about the media that it is painted
with and on.
No expert - but gut feeling goes with others - particularly Gail - one thing I did notice was the “cupid bow” lips - hardly a classical trait
Perhaps Bouguereau? Or a follow there of.
The original of this painting was depicted by Jules Louis Machard(1839-1900)The Title of of the Painting is “S,lene” painted in 1874. here is a link. http://www.artnet.com/artist/10907/jules-louis-machard.html
as for the painting hanging in the arlington, I highly doubt that Machard painted it. It is certainly a replica of the original, but most likely a copy done by a very talented local.
Hope this answers your question.
Consider: Porcelain-esque treatment of figure, gesture, and “landscape” (or lack thereof)
The figure is illustrative, not artistic. The painting is almost Germanic (KPM factory).
The face and the hands have a 20th century “feel”.
My guess is if this is of a “famous” artist, perhaps a ceramic artisan is the answer. My suggestion is to query the local ceramic centers (Spode, Waterford, Webb, etc.) to see if they recognize not only the image, but perhaps the styling.
My best guess is 1920’s.
Taryn’s link is the key,both to the dilemma and to a dinner in Amsterdam.
Many thanks to everyone who has given pointers and suggestions in this matter. All knowledge is worth gaining, and man have I gained during my stint in private investig-art-ion.
Thank you Taryn for the solution, and of course, thank you Shelley for your help and shared determination.
I literally could not have found this out without y’all.
Kevin.