Medium Portrait Paintings

Nude Male Portrait, Burgundy Colour, Original Oil Painting English School, Mid 20th Century Oil painting on board, unframed Board size: 30 x 20 inch...

Etienne Ret Mixed Media Portrait of a Newsboy C.1974 Original mixed media with oil and newspaper Dimensions 16" wide x 21" high The frame measures 25" wide x 31" high Signed and ...

Here is an almost two hundred year old painting which is so irresistibly charming that it's crazy! You may have seen painted landscapes, portraits, genre scenes - but how many pretty...

'Portrait of a Woman with Short Hair', oil on board, by Peter Robert Keil (1983). A wide-eyed woman gazes out to the viewer with a tranquil smile. The colou...

Title: Portrait of a Lady Artist: Rosendo González Carbonell Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 24 x 20 inches (unframed) Condition: Good condition Creation Period: 1970s Signed: Yes,...

Oil paint on paper with glass and frame. Signed and certified by the artist.

A superb early 20th century French impressionist oil on canvas head and shoulders portrait of an African man wearing a yellow jacket. Excellent quality and condition work, with a pu...

A striking study of a woman a seated woman in a bold pose. Signed with a monogram to the lower right. On board.

In 1961, there would have been a chauffeured Rolls-Royce Phantom V limousine waiting for this gentleman curbside. Perhaps he was a new ambassador paying his respects to a head of gov...

Oil on canvas by Louis BERTHOMME SAINT-ANDRE, France, 1940s. Young Red-haired Woman. with frame: 74x63 cm - 29.1x24.8 inches ; without frame: 61x50 cm - 24x19.7 inches. Format 12F. ...

Portrait of an African American Woman by Tony Sisti (1901-1983). Sisti was a master draftsman. With just a few lines he captures the moment. Sisti was a professional boxer and an acc...

A fine shoulder length portrait of a young woman circa 1940's-1950's Continental School. A fine shoulder length portrait of a young woman circa 1940's-1950's Continental School. oil ...

Male Portrait, Signed Gennaro Befanio (Naples, 1866 - Paris, 1937), Dated 1936 Male portrait in oil on canvas, signed in the upper left corner "G. Befanio" and dated 1936. Likely on...

A magnificent oil on canvas by Russian American WPA artist Nahum Tschacbasov (1899-1984), dating from 1943. Depicting a Maternity scene - or possibly a m...

Dame Ethel Walker DBE ARA (1861-1951) Young Man in a Red Tie Oil on canvas 51 x 40.6 cm.; (within frame) 70 x 59.7 cm. Provenance: The Lefevre Gallery, London, stock number X890; Christie’s, London, Modern British Pictures, Watercolours, Drawings and Sculpture, 12 September 1996, lot 58; Bonhams, London, Modern British and Irish Art, 23 November 2022, lot 177; Private Collection, United Kingdom. This focussed composition is dominated by a handsome young man in profile, frowning with a concentrated glare. His slender cheeks meet a jaw brushed with a masculine grey, complimented by the blue of a flower or pocket square, and the shadow of a loose strand of oiled hair that rests across his forehead. The stylistic sophistication shows Walker at her best, ambitiously combining measured figuration with expressive abstraction, as delicious dashes of pigment appear still wet, and dissonant swipes energetically mark the surface of the canvas. With an elegance that borders on the effete, the sitter’s urbane style includes a spearpoint collar, framed by the wide lapels of his suit jacket. Most significantly, the young man’s dandyish fashion is augmented by the conspicuous titular red tie which he wears – an established expression of queerness in the 20th century. Painted by the lesbian artist Dame Ethel Walker, it is likely that the portrait is that of a gay man belonging to London’s queer artistic circles. Indeed, Walker’s male sitters (who constitute but a fraction of her output) are typically conceived as modish, and often wear striking colourful ties. Walker was one of the earliest lesbian artists to overtly explore her sexuality in her works, and an aesthetic fascination with the female form culminated with her glorious large-scale ‘decorations’, exemplified by Decoration: The Excursion of Nausicaa (Tate, N03885). Red neckties had been established in the 20th century as a coded (though appropriately colourful) expression of queerness, not dissimilar to the green carnation of the Wildean aesthetes. The gay writer and musician Mikhail Kuzmin was painted in 1909 in a stark red tie. Two decades later, the Anglo-French physician Havelock Ellis described the red necktie as an emblem amongst queer New Yorkers: ‘[…] there has been a fashion for a red tie to be adopted by inverts [homosexuals] as their badge’ (Ellis, p. 299). The motif permeated fiction, and in Thomas Mann’s 1912 novel Death In Venice, the protagonist Gustav von Aschenbach begins to wear a red necktie after he develops an infatuation with a beautiful young boy staying at his hotel. William Faulkner’s 1929 novel The Sound and the Fury includes an unnamed male character identified throughout by his distinctive red necktie, which is the subject of veiled insinuations against his masculinity. Walker must surely have been familiar with this symbolic importance when she executed the present portrait. Her few portraits of male sitters include colourful neckties almost exclusively, and include numerous examples of red neckties. Indeed, the artist herself preferred to wear a red tie, a declaration which so impressed itself on Virginia Woolf that she noted it in a diary entry after tea with Walker (Bell, p. 282). Walker, who painted Woolf’s sister Vanessa Bell, had once offered to paint Woolf in the nude, as Lilith. Around the same time, Augustus John painted the gay peer Evan Morgan, 2nd Viscount Tredegar, in a loose red necktie or neck scarf. The portrait passed through the Lefevre Gallery, which also represented Walker, and which inventoried the present work. While the sartorial choice may have been incidental, a colourful accessory chosen to enliven the portrait, its prominent inclusion would suggest a personal significance to Walker, the recognition of a shared experience between artist and subject. Dame Ethel Walker was hailed as a leading female artist of her generation, and as late as 2010 was one of only four women artists to have been honoured as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Walker was born in Edinburgh in 1861 to the botanist Arthur Abney Walker, a descendent of the Walker family of iron industrialists, whose estates included Clifton House (Rotherham) and Blythe Hall (Nottinghamshire). She attended school in London after the family moved to Wimbledon, and in 1880 met the fellow artist Clara Christian, with whom she would form an important personal and professional bond. The women’s relationship was later allegorised by the writer George Moore as that of Stella (Christian) and Florence (Walker) in his fictionalised three-volume memoir Hail and Farewell. Walker went on to Putney School of Art and Westminster School of Art, and studied under Frederick Brown, who became a lifelong mentor. Around 1893 Walker took further study at the Slade School of Art, partly under Walter Sickert, and returned in 1912, 1916, and 1921. Although Walker enjoyed painting floral still lifes and seascapes, her best work was portraiture. She worked from her studio at 38 Cheyne Walk for most of her career, and enjoyed a prominent role in London’s artistic milieu. Her sitters included the artists Lucien Pissarro, Orovida Camille Pissarro, Vanessa Bell, and Barbara Hepworth; she painted Nancy Astor, the Countess of Strathcona, the editor Joan Werner Laurie, and author Leo Walmsley. The actors Flora Robson and Elsa Lanchester sat for Walker, as did the young Christopher Robin Milne. Walker herself was photographed by the bisexual photographer and painter Humphrey Spender...

'Parc des Buttes-Chaumont' in Paris, gouache on art paper, by Lucien Génin (circa 1930s). A charming depiction of well turned out Parisians enjoying a day at the park. Boaters, strollers and swans all co-mingle around the peaceful lake. The reflection of the rocky bluff in the water is superbly treated by Génin. It's a cheerful and uplifting image of days-gone-by in 1930s Paris. The park takes its name from the 'bare hill' (chauve-mont) that once occupied the site. It became a place where gypsum was mined, and where the limestone was quarried to be used in buildings in Paris and the United States. Worse, though, it was a site that also became a dumping ground. Luckily, during the 19th-century renovation of Paris under Napoleon III, chauve-mont was chosen as a place for a large park, as part of the emperor's fascination with endowing Paris with green spaces. The artificial lake created at that time wraps around a hilly central island. The lake attracts waterfowl and other birds and is stocked with fish. The 19th-century planners cleaned up the site and added tons of soil to fill the pits left by a limestone mining operation. Then dynamite was used to "sculpt" the site into the craggy shapes seen today, including the 50-metre-high central hill with cliffs, an interior grotto, pinnacles, and arches. Up on top, overlooking the rest of the park - and depicted in this artwork - is a small, round belvedere, based on the Roman Temple of Vesta in Italy. From that spot you can see a lovely view of Montmartre and the white cupolas of the Sacre-Coeur. The painting is in very good condition. It has been newly framed and glazed with museum-quality glass (anti-reflective and UV protection) to preserve this significant artwork for decades to come. Dimensions with frame: H 62 cm / 24.4" W 76 cm / 29.9" Dimensions without frame: H 48.5 cm / 19.1" W 63 cm / 24.8" About the Artist: After the devastation of the First World War, Lucien Génin (1894 - 1953) left his provincial home in the autumn of 1919 to find his fortune among the lively Parisians in the heart of Montmartre. Génin befriended the painters Frank Will, Gen Paul, Émile Boyer, Marcel Leprin...

French Character Portrait French school, Mid 20th Century Gouache paint on unframed paper inscribed verso stamped to the reverse Image : 19.5 x 25.5 inches Superbly decorative 196...

Symbolist Portrait signed by Bernard Labbe (French mid 20th century) original oil on artist paper, mounted in a card frame overall size: 31.5 x 20 inches painting size: 27.5 x 18 inc...

This sophisticated British portrait oil painting is by female artist Hedwig Pillitz and painted circa 1930. Her parents emigrated from Hungary to England and Hedwig and her actor sis...

Paul LUNAUD (Brantôme 1900 – 1949) The ironer Oil on wood H. 80 cm; W. 64 cm Signed and dated on the right in the center, formerly signed lower right. 1942 Provenance : Artist's stu...

"Evelyne" French School, mid century titled verso signed oil on board, unframed dated 51' board: 24.5 x 20 inches provenance: private collection, northern France condition: very good...

Swyncop Charles Brussels 1895 – 1970 Belgian Painter ‘Le Petit Déjeuner – A Breakfast’ Signature: Signed, monogram top right and on revers
 Medium: Oil on canvas
 Dimensions: Image size 60,50 x 50,50 cm, frame size 78 x 68,50 cm Biography: Swyncop Charles  was born in Brussels on March 21, 1895 emerged as a distinguished Belgian painter during the first half of the 20th century, leaving an indelible mark on the art world with his vibrant and captivating works. Born into a family with a passion for art, Charles inherited his artistic inclination from his older brother, Philippe Swyncop...

'Nude Viewed from the Back', oil on canvas, by Charles Kvapil (1937). The world of art has for centuries depicted nudes in one form or another. Kvapil's wonderfully alluring versions may likely be inspired by Courbet and Cézanne. This nude appears on a chair with her back to the artist and viewer. There are plush reds, sensuous pinks and darker, patterned curtains...

Portrait of an Elegant Lady under Parasol, the beach in the distance English School, Impressionist signed oil on board, framed framed: 32 x 27 inches board: 24 x 20 inches provenance...

A charming oil portrait of professor Stuart from the Sexton of St Botolph’s Church, Cambridge, 1942. Unsigned. With provenance retained from the artist's family. On board.

'The Cabaret Dancer', crayon on art paper, by Kolomon Moore (circa 1930s). The Crazy Years (les Années Folles) of Paris in the 1920s hit an abrupt end in...

'Sailors in the Port of Nice', mixed media - gouache, pastel and oil on paper, by Alfred Salvignol (circa 1950s). The Port of Nice is one of the key hubs of Nice and, in fact, of the entire French Riviera, standing out as one of the main harbours for the boats which sail across the Mediterranean Sea. It accommodates both the ships operated by ferry companies and the private yachts of visitors who come to Nice by sea. The artist here depicts a group of crusty sailors watching...

From the series dedicated to Timeless Women by Salvador Aulestia, this is definitely a museum-grade artwork, exceptionally granted to celebrate yellow, a color well present in the Ca...

The Castle By Norman Lindsay (1879-1969), Watercolour painting on canvas mounted on board and framed signed to lower right painting measures: 30.5cm x 23.5cm framed: 77.5cm x 70.5cm ...

This lovely portrait oil painting is by noted British artist Lionel Ellis. Painted in 1955 the painting is a self portrait of the artist on a beautiful chestnut horse in the foregrou...

Woman is an original modern artwork realized by Eliseu Visconti (1866-1944) in 1930. Mixed colored oil painting on board. Hand signed and dated on the lower margin.

WILLIAM CROSSBIE RSA (1915-1999) Described by the Royal Scottish Academy as “one of the finest and most singular Scottish painters of the twentieth century”, am Crosby trained at Glasgow School of Art and in Paris under Ferdinand Leger...

Oil on canvas by Vicente CRISTELLYS (1898-1970), School of Paris, late 1950s. "Lolo", portrait of Gina Lollobrigida in Notre-Dame de Paris (film). Arriving in Paris during the 1920s, Vicente Cristellys settled in Montparnasse like many of his colleagues from the Ecole de Paris. He paints characters and scenes largely inspired by his native Spain. It was after a bohemian period that he began to illustrate cinema posters and he managed to settle in the Parisian cinematographic milieu. For example, he will sign posters for The Big Sleep, The Man in The iron mask...

Work on canvas Golden wooden frame 81 x 68 x 3 cm Woman with a chef's hat This striking portrait, typical of Expressionism, depicts a woman in an introspective pose. Vigorous brushst...

'Winter in Provence', gouache on art paper, by Raymond Debiève (circa 1970s). There is both beauty and melancholy in this delightfully charming artwork. The artist's naive style is at odds with the refinement, poise and sophistication of the painting. Perhaps the artist was making a statement as well with the broken wall...

Signed and dated oil on canvas portrait by post impressionist painter Maximilien Luce. The painting is of the artist's wife, Ambroisine "Simone" Bouin, seated in a chair with a vase ...

Leon Kroll (1884 - 1974) Portrait of a Woman, circa 1950 Oil on canvas 20 3/4 x 17 inches Signed lower left Provenance: Private Collection, New York Private Collection, North Caroli...

Laura M. GREENWOOD (1897-1951). Portrait of Woman in Head Shawl Oil on canvas, 8 x 10 inches. Signed upper stretcher verso. Excellent condition. Would benefit from a cleaning. O...

Lazzaro Donati (Italian, 1926-1977), "Signora dal Cappello," oil on panel, signed lower left, signed, titled and dated verso, overall (with frame): 22.5"h x 24.5"w Lazzaro Donati wa...

A beautiful 1920's French or possibly German post-impressionist oil on canvas portrait of a fisherman. Excellent quality work painted with quick, sketchy brush strokes against a mott...

A vibrant and rich portrait of a young girl wearing an oversized white shirt and colourful scarf. Her long brown hair falls effortlessly across her shoulders and is tied with an oran...

Agnes Louise Agnete Jensen Weie (Danish, 1878-1964) and painted circa 1911. Provenance: ABR auction 170, 1964, catalog #83, 1964 (see photo); Inscribed, verso, '83/170' from auction ...

Born into difficult times, the life of German Jewish artist Hermann Hirsch was not filled with peace or abundance. However, I believe at least while he w...

Claude Benard (1926-2016, French), signed Portrait of a Fashionable Young Lady oil painting on canvas, unframed, signed upper corner painting: 32 x 24 inches provenance: the artists ...

Artist/ School: French School, circa 1960's, signed with monogram Title: Portrait of a fashionable lady in an emerald green dress. Medium: oil...

Feu de Joie 1970 hand signed and dated. Measurements: 25.75 X 25.75 Framed. Image is 23.75 X 23.75 Emilcar Similien, known as Simil was born in 1944 in St. Marc. He finished elementary school in St. Marc and high school in Port-au-Prince. From 1965 until 1971 he studied at the Academy of Beaux-Arts in Port-au-Prince, where he took courses in painting, sculpture, and art history. Simil uses his images of women only as means for displaying patterns, color, and the sparkle of gold jewelry on black skin. He paints with acrylics on Masonite of any size. His surfaces are smooth and polished. Simil delights in beauty, elegance, and grace. This is done in a silhouette style reminiscent of Kara Walker. Emilcar Simil (Similcar) is known for Acrylic painting in high colors of black skinned female figures. He is of the generation of Haitian artists that include Bernard Sejourne, Prospere Pierre-Louis, Levoy Exil, Louisiane Saint Fleurant, Henri Calixte, Paul Dieuseul, Laurent Casimir, Frantz Zephirin, Denis Smith, Philton Latortue, Philome Obin, Préfète Duffaut, Fernand Pierre...

Artist: Georges Regnault (French mid 20th century) Medium: Oil on Canvas Dimensions: Framed: 27 x 24 inches Canvas: 22 x 18 inches Provenance: Private Collection, France Condition: ...

Portrait of a Young Woman French artist, mid 20th century signed oil on board, frames Framed: 29 x 23 inches Board : 22 x 15 inches Provenance: private collection, France Condition:...

This lovely British ballet oil painting is by noted artist Elizabeth Bridge. Painted in 1951, the composition is a male and female ballet dancer on...

Pablo O’Higgins (1904-1983). Portrait of Don Nieves, 1960. Watercolor on paper, 18 x 24.5 inches; 19 x 25.5 inches in original frame. Signed lower righ...

The Playing Cards by Louise Alix (French, 1888-1980) *see notes below oil painting on canvas unframed measures: 30.5 inches high by 22.5 inches wide condition: overall very good and ...

Portrait of J. Knowles inscribed and dated to label verso oil on canvas, framed in hand painted elaborate frame framed: 25 x 22 inches canvas: 22 x 1...

"Mrs Helene Kernel, Paris 1964" by Jacques Falcou (French 1912-1975) signed, titled and dated verso oil on canvas, framed in original period French frame framed: 30.5 x 25 inches can...

This lovely British Modernist portrait oil painting is by noted artist Lionel Ellis. The painting comes from a collection of works by the artist, previously owned by his wife. Painte...

Francesc Serra Castellet (1912-1976) - Girl - Oil on canvas Oil measurements 73x60 cm. Frameless. Biography: Francesc Serra Castellet. Barcelona 1912 - Tossa de Mar (Girona) 1976. ...

The Young Model Paul Morro, German circa 1960’s Oil painting on canvas, unframed Canvas size: 27 x 23.5 inches Portrait of a young girl, signed by the impressionist artist. Unfra...

Ron Gorchov Historic Self Portrait, 1955-1959 Oil painting on board Hand signed in paint on the upper recto and dated 1955-9 Frame included: held in original vintage artist's frame T...

Zero in Blue by Peter Max, German/American (1937) Date: 1985 Acrylic on Canvas, signed u.r. Size: 24 in. x 18 in. (60.96 cm x 45.72 cm) Frame Size: 26.5 x 20.5 inches