Mid-18th Century Figurative Paintings

Up for sale is a very interesting antique 17/18 centuries original oil painting on canvas depicting a genre scene with a gentleman in black robes is approached by two elderly men a...

The scene depicts a feast within a park enclosed by walls with arched gateways opening onto the countryside, and adorned on the right with an amphora on a small column and in the center, behind the figures, with a gushing fountain, with statues of cherubs and shells. Two couples of richly dressed ladies and gentlemen entertain themselves gallantly, surrounded by servants; one of the men is playing the violin, crouching in front of his lady, who, flanked by the damsel, follows the melody on the score held up by the dark-haired man at her side, while two musicians accompany the playing with flute and a mandolin; the other couple, in an attitude of intimate dialogue, listens on the left, while on the right the hunter returning from the hunt also observes the scene. Particularly prominent in the scene is the rich dress of the lady in the center, characterized by the wide back folds falling from her shoulders to create a cape. Such a dress corresponds to what was called "robe à la Watteau," named after the French painter Antoine Watteau who first portrayed ladies wearing this pattern. Antoine Watteau (1684 -1721), a French painter considered one of the most influential French exponents of Rococo painting, was the forerunner of the pictorial genre of gallant scenes, a genre that developed in France from the late 1600s and continued throughout the following century. The gallant scenes could be considered as the aristocratic version of the genre scene: characterized by music, dances, pleasant conversations between ladies and gentlemen surrounded by servants, they tended to enhance the costumes, fashionable clothes, and environments of the upper class, conveying a kind of detachment from the real times and places, projecting the viewer into an almost theatrical atmosphere of gestures, looks, colors and stage lights. Moreover, Watteau, along with the Fêtes galantes cycles, also distinguished himself for those inspired by the theater, absorbing his passion for the scenes and characters of that milieu from Claude Gillot...

Painting done in oil on canvas. The figure of Magdalene is depicted here, in keeping with tradition, with long red hair; with a gesture of sorrowful dedication she fixes her gaze on ...

An allegory of loyalty, with the subject's dog pictured seated, holding his master's chisel in his mouth; fidelity personified. Italian School, 18th century Ink wash in gray and bl...

French 18th century old master portrait of a majestic lady dressed "à la Turque" The sitter at the viewer with a kind and enigmatic smile and twinkling eyes. She looks elegant and kind, yet also has an intelligent and determined aura, reflecting the character of someone who is in charge of her own life and destiny. De Silvestre paid great attention to her spectacular outfit, which is striking in its portrayal of the sumptuous fabrics and their decorative richness. She is wearing a luxurious royal blue robe à la...

Attributed to Francis Swaine (British, 1725–1782) Naval Engagement at Sea, 18th century Oil on panel In this evocative seascape, a cluster of ships—flags raised, cannons fired—conve...

Elegant Figures in Interior *see notes below Italian School, mid 18th century most likely of Venetian origin oil on canvas, unframed canvas: 10.75 x 11.75 inches provenance: private ...

Circle of Thomas Hudson (1701-1779) British. 18th Century Bust Portrait of a Lady, Oil on Canvas, Inscribed on a label verso, canvas: 30" x 25" (76.2 x 63.5cm). frame: 30 x 25 in...

Venetian painter (18th century) - Madonna with Child. 44.5 x 37 cm without frame, 54 x 46.5 cm with frame. Antique oil painting on canvas, in a carved and gilded wooden frame. - I...

Gaspare Diziani (Belluno 1689 – Venice 1767) - Madonna and Child. 74 x 58 cm without frame, 88.5 x 69.5 cm with frame. Antique oil painting on canvas, in a carved and gilded wooden...

The Pseudo-Guardi was an unidentified Venetian painter from the 18th or early 19th century who closely imitated the style of Francesco Guardi (1712–1793), one of the great Venetian v...

French Master (18th century) - Sleeping Diana. 95 x 125 cm. Old oil painting on canvas, without frame. Condition report: Lined canvas. Good state of conservation of the pictorial ...

Como pueden apreciar, la obra no va firmada, es de autor anónimo Se presenta enmarcada la obra con un marco en madera policromada El estado de la obra es bueno, solo comentar que l...

18th century oil on canvas chinoiserie scene painted 'en Camaïeu Bleu'. Originally part of a decorative scheme in a dining room as an overdoor set into panelling. Provenance: From ...

Follower of Nicolas Lancret (Paris 1690 - Paris 1743) - Gallant scene in a landscape. 63.5 x 76 cm without frame, 91 x 102.5 cm with frame. Antique oil painting on canvas, in carve...

This exquisite 18th-century portrait depicts a young girl, delicately rendered in the style of Sir Godfrey Kneller, one of the most celebrated portrait painters of the Baroque period...

Up for sale is a very interesting antique 17/18 centuries original oil painting on canvas depicting a genre scene with a gentleman in black robes is approached by two elderly men a...

Italian painter (18th century) - Saint Monica in prayer. 56 x 32 cm. Antique oil painting on canvas, without frame. Condition report: Good state of conservation of the pictorial s...

Enoch Seeman - 1894 - 1744 An excellent example of Seeman's work. It is typically unsigned as was the case of many portraits of that time. A three quarter length portrait showing a r...

Giovanni Maria DELLE PIANE, known as IL MULINARETTO (Genoa, 1660 – Monticelli d'Ongina, 1745) Portrait of a man Oil on oval canvas H. 108 cm; L. 83 cm Provenance: Nino Ferrari Colle...

An important & large oil on canvas Baroque painting by the Bohemian Old Master artist, Franz Xaver Karl Palko (1724-1767), an allegory of architecture, circa 1750. The painting depic...

Portrait of a young boy, full-length in a blue velvet coat and breeches, standing on a stone terrace in a garden landscape, playing with a spinning top. Signed and dated ' Phil. Merc...

Neapolitan painter (18th century) - Allegory of America. 76.5 x 64.5 cm without frame, 83 x 69.5 cm with frame. Antique oil painting on canvas, in a lacquered and gilded wooden fra...

French painter (18th century) - Joseph in prison. 84 x 105 cm. Antique oil painting on canvas, without frame. Condition report: Lined canvas. Good state of conservation of the pic...

La scena è dominata dalla croce, sulla quale risalta il corpo ben modellato e dal colore bianco brillanto di Cristo, dipinta con una prospettiva laterale. La parte sinistra è occupa...

This charming 18th century French Old Master oil painting is attributed to circle of Joseph Frans Nollekens. Painted circa 1740 it is described as a fete champetre - a form of entertainment in the 18th century, taking the form of a garden party. They were often elegant affairs and became very popular in 18th French paintings. Antoine Watteau invented the genre, from around 1710 and they were also included as a category in the French Academy. In this painting, several well dressed figures are sat in the foreground by a fountain and statue, being entertained by a musician. Beyond, a wide avenue of trees leads towards a very grand country house with countryside beyond. There is superb detail in the figures and their colourful clothing. The brushwork in the trees and sky is also superb. This is a charming example of an 18th century fete champetre and of a French Old Master oil painting. Provenance. Gloucester estate. Condition. Oil on canvas. Image size 49 inches by 30 inches and in good condition. Frame. Housed in a fine gilt frame, 56 inches by 37 inches and in good condition. Josef Frans Nollekens or Joseph Frans Nollekens (1702–1748)[2] was a Flemish painter who was principally active in England where he is often referred to as "Old Nollekens" to distinguish him from his famous son, the sculptor Joseph Nollekens. He painted conversation pieces, galant companies and fêtes champêtres in the style of Watteau, genre scenes as well as portraits. He was also active as a picture restorer. A fête champêtre was a form of entertainment in the 18th century, taking the form of a garden party. This form of entertainment was particularly practised by the French court, where in the Gardens of Versailles and elsewhere areas of the park were landscaped with follies, pavilions, and temples to accommodate such festivities. The term is a French expression, very literally translating as "party in the fields", meaning a "pastoral festival" or "country feast" and in theory was a simple form of entertainment, perhaps little more than a picnic or informal open air dancing. In practice, especially in the 18th century, the simplicity of the event was often contrived. A fête champêtre was often a very elegant form of entertainment involving on occasions whole orchestras hidden in trees, with guests sometimes in fancy dress. Such events became a popular subject in French 18th-century painting, representing a glamourized aristocratic form of pastoral, with "scenes of well dressed dalliance in a park setting". Antoine Watteau invented the genre, from around 1710, and is its best exponent, imitated by others such as Nicolas Lancret and Jean-Baptiste Pater...

Circle of Thomas Hudson (1701-1779) British. 18th Century Bust Portrait of a Lady, Oil on Canvas, Inscribed on a label verso, canvas: 30" x 25" (76.2 x 63.5cm). frame: 30 x 25 in...

French master (18th century) - Samson and Delilah. 81 x 119 cm without frame, 99 x 137 cm with frame. Antique oil painting on canvas, in antique carved wooden frame. Condition rep...

Italianate landscape garden with classical ornament, including Giambologna's Sabine women and a classical urn, view to a bay beyond Coplestone War...

Portrait of a Noble Lady English artist, mid 18th century circle of Thomas Gainsborough (English 1727-1788) oil on canvas, unframed canvas: 30 x 25 inches provenance: private collect...

Artist/ School: Manner of Guido Reni (1575-1642) Italian Title: The Prophecy of Simeon Medium: oil painting on canvas, unframed Painting: 21.5 ...

Portrait of a Clerical Gentleman Italian artist, mid 18th century Circle of Giovanni Battista Carboni (1725-1790) oil on canvas, unframed canvas: 26 x 22 inches provenance: private c...

Francesco Fontebasso (Venice 1707 - Venice 1769) - Sketch for Venus and Vulcan. 53.5 x 36 cm without frame, 66 x 48.5 cm with frame. Antique oil painting on canvas, in an antique c...

A finely painted picture, possibly of the penitent Mary Magdelane, painted in oil on to a copper plate and dating to c1750. Condition Two old touch ins, tiny chip to the forehead...

Circle of Giambattista Piazzetta (Venice 1683 - Venice 1754) - San Giacomo Maggiore. 62.5 x 52.5 cm without frame, 72.5 x 62.5 cm with frame. Antique oil painting on canvas, in a c...

We would like to thank Mr. Nicolas Lesur for confirming the autograph nature of the entire composition after a direct examination of the painting on November 27, 2024. This painting...

Antique Italian painting from the second half of the 18th century. Oil on canvas artwork depicting a religious subject, antique copy by Correggio (1489-1534), Mystical Marriage of Sa...

Louis-Gabriel BLANCHET (Versailles, 1701 – Rome, 1772) Presumed self-portrait of the artist Oil on canvas H. 73 cm; W. 60 cm Circa 1730 Originally presented in a Restoration period frame with a "Mignard" cartouche, this beautiful painting initially appeared to us as a work from northern Italy. However, it exuded a rather French form of refinement, suggesting that its artist may have assimilated a dual influence from both sides of the Alps. We thank our colleague and friend Philippe Mendès for spontaneously and judiciously "bringing out" the name of Louis-Gabriel Blanchet, a Romanized French portraitist, whose spirit and stylistic characteristics we clearly recognize here. Blanchet's "French" years, before his final departure for Rome in 1728, following his winning of the second Grand Prix for painting after Subleyras in 1727, are extremely poorly documented. His father, Gabriel, was valet to Blouin, himself Louis XIV's first valet at the time. According to Thierry Lefrançois, Blanchet was one of the few students of Nicolas Bertin (1667-1736), whose studio he is said to have joined in the early 1720s. At a baptism on March 24, 1724, where he was godfather, he is mentioned as a painter in the picture store of the Duke of Antin, the director of buildings between 1708 and 1736. At this time, he was probably already married to Jeanne Quément, with whom he had a daughter also named Jeanne, who would marry Nicolas Aviet, the son of a valet in the queen's wardrobe, in Versailles in 1738. When Blanchet arrived in Rome in October 1728, he was accompanied by Subleyras, Trémolières, and Slodtz. He enjoyed the goodwill of Vleughels, the director of the Académie de France, which had been based at the Palazzo Mancini since 1725, even though the latter was not always kind to our resident. From 1732, he was under the protection of the Duke of Saint-Aignan when he took up his post as ambassador to Rome. Along with Slodtz and Subleyras, they formed a trio of friends, joined by Joseph Vernet shortly after his arrival in Rome in 1734. Slodtz and Blanchet, on the occasion of Subleyras's marriage in 1739, were there to attest that their friend was not bound by any marital commitment, and Blanchet was a witness at Vernet's wedding in 1745. It is most likely from these early years in Rome that our portrait of the artist dates, the expression and turn of his face irresistibly reminiscent of a self-portrait. The still relatively youthful features may correspond to Blanchet's thirty-something years, and the fluffy wig was still fashionable at this time. The painting fits well with the depiction of a young painter wanting to display both the beginnings of success and a certain simplicity or restraint. A slight smile expresses a form of assurance in this man with a gentle, sincere gaze and a face radiating a keen sense of wit. We find here the air of intimacy present in almost all of Blanchet's portraits, even those from the 1750s and 1760s, as well as an almost complicity with the viewer. The spirit of the painting is quite close to that of the presumed portrait of Bouchardon (painted around 1730) and the portrait of Pannini, painted in 1736, but it possesses a more natural quality, notably thanks to the absence of decorum. Our work exhibits the characteristics of Blanchet's paintings: elegance, luminosity (especially in the whites), vibrant and refined colors (here, the harmony of the garnet of the garment and the slate blue of the background, whose uniformity is tempered by a very sketched landscape and a grove of greenery), light complexions, rather rosy cheekbones, often full lips, and rather tight framing. According to the Academy's rules, Blanchet's stay should have ended in the spring of 1732, but, for reasons unknown, he remained in the Eternal City until his death, as did his friend Subleyras, with whom he shared accommodation until the late 1730s. The latter regularly called upon him to collaborate on his paintings, such as The Meal at Simon's. Through Saint-Aignan's intervention, Blanchet was employed in the late 1730s by the Stuart princely family, then exiled in Italy. He notably produced copies (now lost) after Liotard of the portraits of Charles Edward and Henry Benedict, the sons of James III Stuart. The latter also commissioned three other portraits (now in the National Portrait Gallery in London), whose more formal character contrasts with the intimate spirit of Blanchet's portraits. Blanchet frequented English painters, such as the landscape painter Richard Wilson, and studied with the Scottish portraitist Katherine Read...

Sin firmar, es de autor anónimo Se presenta sin enmarcar la pintura El estado de conservación de la obra se puede ver, presenta algunas faltas que precisarán restauración y el bast...

In this masterly painting, Francesco de Mura presents the meeting of Erminia and the shepherds, a famous episode taken from the seventh canto of Torquato Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered....

This portrait, attributed to the American painter Ralph Earl, captures Benedict Arnold, one of the most controversial figures of the American Revolutionary War. Ralph Earl, known for...

This charming mid-18th-century oil painting depicts a veritable array of revellers holding a feast by a tavern. It’s after a work by Flemish artist, David Teniers the Younger (1610-1...

Portrait of a Lady French artist, Rococo period 18th century oil on canvas, framed framed: 15 x 12.5 inches canvas: 10.5 x 8.5 inches provenance: private collection, France condition...

French painter (18th century) - Flute player and dog. 43.5 x 35 cm without frame, 54 x 45 cm with frame. Antique oil painting on canvas, in a carved and gilded wooden frame. Condi...

This painting, created during Zuccarelli's stay in England, represents the decisive moment when Macbeth, together with Banquo, meets the three witches who announce that he will be Ki...

Italian painter (18th century) - Portrait of a gentleman with an aphorism. 92 x 68cm. Oil on canvas, unframed. - Iscribed on the book: "In the world there are more crazy men than ...

Como pueden apreciar, la obra no va firmada, es de autor anónimo Se presenta enmarcada la obra (el marco presenta algunos signos de uso) El estado de la obra se puede ver, presenta...

French School Portrait of a young woman in Louis XV period dress Pastel on paper mounted on oval canvas H. 68 cm; W. 54 cm (Frame: H. 102 cm; W. 71 cm) 18th century frame, anti-refle...

Antique Flemish painting from the 18th century. Framework oil on canvas depicting religious subject Holy family of good pictorial quality. Nice sized and pleasantly decorated framewo...

Se presenta enmarcada la pintura con un marco del siglo xviii El estado de la obra se puede ver, tiene faltas de capa pictórica y también comentar que la tela está reentelada Medid...

French painter (18th century) - Joseph thrown into the cistern by his brothers. 84 x 105 cm. Old oil painting on canvas, without frame. Condition report: Lined canvas. Good state ...

Attributed to Jacques DUMONT aka DUMONT LE ROMAIN (Paris 1701 - 1781) Presumed portrait of Louis-Joseph de Formanoir (?-1732) Oil on canvas H. 91.5 cm; L. 73 cm Signed on the helmet:...

Antique Italian painting from the 18th century. Framework oil on canvas depicting a landscape with figures of good pictorial quality. Nice sized and pleasantly decorated paintinf wit...

Circle of Giambattista Piazzetta (Venice 1683 - Venice 1754) - San Tommaso. 62.5 x 52.5 cm without frame, 72.5 x 62.5 cm with frame. Antique oil painting on canvas, in a contempora...

Venetian painter (18th century) - Sketch for Venus and Chronos. 59 x 43 cm without frame, 70 x 54 cm with frame. Antique oil painting on canvas, in a carved and gilded wooden frame...

Provenance: Dukes of Marlborough Collection, Blenheim Palace until its sale at Christie's London on 26 July 1886 (lot 172) English private collection until its sale at Christie's London on 11 December 1992 (lot 363) Erna Weidinger Collection (1923 - 2021) - Austria Literature : Georg Scharf - A list of the pictures in Blenheim Palace - Catalogue raisonné Part 2 - London 1862 (page 166 - number 199 "after Palma Giovane") Charles Davies...

Escuela Española del siglo XVIII. "Niño Jesus Salvador Mundi o Niño de la bola" Óleo sobre lienzo. Medidas: 75.5 x 53.3 cm. ; 82.5 x 62.5 x 3 cm. (marco). C...

Antique Italian painting from 18th century. Framework oil on canvas, on the first canvas, depicting a view with characters, animals and ruins of good pictorial quality. Large size fr...

Pietro Bardellino (Naples, Italy, 1731 – 1806) Title: Mary Magdalene Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: without frame 75 x 60 cm – with frame 97 x 82 cm Antique shaped and carved wood...

This splendid mid-18th-century Dutch landscape painting depicts a view with travellers before distant rolling hills. Amid the long shadows of early evening, a travelling party rests...

Antique Italian painting from 18th century. Oil artwork on canvas depicting biblical subject Joseph and and Potiphar's Wife of good pictorial hand. Beautiful measure and pleasant fur...