Medium Portrait Paintings

This artwork is a striking fusion of vintage and modern elements, featuring a confident, poised woman dominating the foreground. Dressed in a chic leather ensemble with a cap and kn...

Artist/ School: French School, circa 1950. The style is a combination of Fauvism and Modernism. Title: Seated Young Lady. Medium: oil painting on thick hessian canvas. Size: p...

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...

Jean La Forgue (French 1901-1975) signed oil on unstretched canvas, unframed painting: 27 x 21 inches provenance: the artists estate, France condition: the painting is on unstretched...

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...

'Grand Prix Racer', French School, oil on board (circa 1960s). The 'good ole' days' of Formula One racing are depicted in this thrilling mid-century...

Venetian painter (18th century) - Portrait of an oriental swordsman. 58 x 45 cm without frame, 69 x 55 cm with frame. Antique oil painting on canvas, in a gilded wooden frame. Con...

Roman Charity Flemish Baroque period, first half 17th century circle of Peter Paul Rubens oil on wood panel, framed framed: 24.5 x 30 inches panel: 20 x 26 inches Provenance: Private...

Austrian School, 18th Century A Portrait of a Gentleman, thought to be Moses Diego Lopez Pereira, 1st Baron d’Aguilar, in an elaborate coat and a powdered wig Oil on canvas Provena...

Artist/ School: Continental School (19th Century) Title: Cherubs In Garden Setting Medium: oil on canvas, framed in beautiful gilt frame. Frame...

Small limited edition run of 49 and 6 E.A."s (Edition of the artist). Each canvas reproduction is crafted by a skilled printer under the supervision of the artist. Román Francés has...

This stunning 18th century Old Master portrait oil painting is attributed to Swedish born, England based artist Michael Dahl. Painted circa 1690 it is a sumptuous half length portrai...

Description Title: Portrait of a French Bulldog Materials: oil on canvas Signature: signed lower right Provenance: private collection Germany Dimensions canvas: 40 cm x 50 cm Framed...

Henri Auguste Cesar SERRUR (Lambersart, 1794 – Lille, 1876) People's Woman of Venice Oil on canvas Signed, located and dated 65 x 60 cm Venice 1850 Exhibitions: - Paris Salon of 1...

Dave Seeley's "Chrysalis" is a 2022 oil painting on canvas mounted to panel, offering an intimate and immersive depiction of the human form in a tightly coiled, almost fetal posture....

Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Africa This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gall...

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...

Portrait of a Young Child English artist, circa 1800's period oil on canvas, framed framed: 31.5 x 27 inches provenance: private collection, England condition: very good and sound co...

"Unfolded Strength" is an abstract artwork by French artist Natalya Mougenot, created as part of her "Women" series, where she explores the intricate dimensions of womanhood and femi...

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...

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: ...

Stella Jae 心 (Xin) 2024 Oil on canvas Size: 31.49 x 23.62 x inches (80 x 60 cm) Signed by hand COA provided *Framing options are available. Please inquiry. Stella J Richey is an i...

Classical portrait of a woman harvesting grapes. In this oil painting, I captured the serene essence of nature and the simple elegance of human connection with the earth. The centr...

Otto Vautier is a renowned Swiss painter, born in 1863 in Düsseldorf. He was influenced by a family of artists and developed his style during his training in Munich and Paris. Vautie...

PIERRE-AUGUSTE RENOIR (1841-1919) Portrait de femme - Berthe Poret bears signature (lower left) oil on canvas 17 15/16 x 14 3/4 in (45.5 x 37.4 cm) Painted between 1862-1863 Footnotes This work will be included in the forthcoming Pierre-Auguste Renoir Digital Catalogue Raisonné, currently being prepared under the sponsorship of the Wildenstein Plattner Institute, Inc. Provenance Berthe Poret Collection, France (acquired from the artist in 1863). Thence by descent to the previous owner. Private collection (acquired from the above in 1947). O'Hana Gallery, London (acquired circa 1955). Michael Mathias Collection, US (acquired through Emmanuel Javogue Fine Arts, Miami in 1998). Simic Galleries, Carmel, by 2000. Private collection, Texas (acquired circa 2007). Private collection, Atlanta. Acquired from the above by the previous owner in February 2019. Exhibited London, O'Hana Gallery, Cezanne to Picasso "Oeuvres de jeunesse," April 12 - May 16, 1956, no. 13 (titled 'Portrait of Mlle. Berthe Poret'). Paris, Galerie Drouot - Provence, Exposition, June 1 - July 31, 1959. Edmonton, The Provincial Museum of Alberta, Edouard Cortes (1882-1969), Paris and French Countryside Revealed, June 9 - September 3, 2001. Literature G-P. & M. Dauberville, Renoir, Catalogue raisonné des tableaux, pastels, dessins et aquarelles, vol. I, 1858-1881, Paris, 2007, no. 440 (illustrated p. 453; titled 'Portrait de Mademoiselle Berthe Poret' and dated circa 1863). One of the earliest known paintings by Renoir...

A super circa 1955 British portrait oil painting of a woman in a hat. (verso another portrait). A very evocative period portrait of a woman painted by British listed female artist C...

Unframed Manuel Capdevila i Massana (Barcelona, ​​December 28, 1910 - April 18, 2006) was a Catalan painter and goldsmith, son of the goldsmith Joaquín Capdevila y Meya and father o...

Beautiful Italian Art Nouveau style portrait of two women by Adriano Goby.

Beautiful signed and dated figure in landscape oil on canvas by sought after French post impressionist painter Henri Martin. The piece depicts a view of a lone farmer standing in a v...

Antonio GUANSE (1926-2008) Pipe Smoker, 1977 Oil on canvas Signed and dated Countersigned and dated on the back On canvas 61 x 50 cm Presented with the wooden frame 62.5 x 51 cm Ve...

Wonderful and finely painted American modernist portrait painting. Framed. Oil on canvas. Signed. Image size, 20H by 16L.

Up for sale is an exceptional original 19th-century antique oil painting on wood board, depicting a nobleman in a red camisole, holding a guitar. He peeks around a corner with an exp...

Gabrielle Rainer Istvanffy was a Hungarian painter of animal paintings. Her chosen subjects were mostly dogs and cats and mostly white and off-white breeds. This piece is a very pretty and cute painting...

Elegant Portrait of a Woman Spanish/ French School, mid 20th century signed oil on canvas, framed in original period frame inscribed verso Framed: 30 x 27 inches Canas: 22 x 18 inche...

Nerea Caos (1993) - jesus christ superstar - Oil on canvas Canvas size 80X60 cm. Frameless. Nerea Sánchez Castro, born in Ferrol, Galicia in 19...

by Paul-Louis Bolot (French 1918-2003) signed double sided original gouache painting on thick paper/ card unframed condition: very good and sound; the edges have a few curls and scuf...

Vintage Landscape figurative oil painting, post impressionist portrait painting of two woman taking tea in the garden signed in the bottom right corner Valery Krassouline...

A bold and elegant piece depicting Audrey Hepburn's Breakfast At Tiffany's juxtaposed with Chanel on an elegant lilac background. With impasto painting, and quick brushwork we are dr...

Frans Pourbus (Bruges, 1545 - Antwerp, 1581) circle Portrait of a gentleman in Renaissance dress with a black doublet and ruff Late 16th century Oil on canvas 46 x 32 cm. - 65 x 53...

Discover the captivating allure of this abstract assemblage composition by German (Hannover) artist Hans-Jürgen Breuste (1933-2012). Crafted with mixed media on a wooden board, it co...

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 Thomas Collard (rector of Withycombe, Somerset 1670-1691) the city depicted in the distance is thought to be Antwerp. the portrait historically has been thought to be fr...

In need of full restoration. Unsigned. On canvas.

“Friends of Friends” explores a playful world where dreams and reality meld together to create surreal moments. When engaging with Piussi's work, we enter an arena where we are imme...

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 superb Art Deco portrait oil painting is by noted Scottish artist Cowan Dobson. Painted in 1923 it is a really light and bright portrait of a young boy. The light catching his white shirt and face illuminate him beautifully as his blue eyes gaze at the artist/viewer. The brushwork, for example on his hair and shirt are superb. This stunning portrait is finished off in a gorgeous original frame. A excellent example of Cowan Dobson's work. Signed and date (19)23 lower right. Provenance. Scottish estate. Condition. Oil on canvas, unframed size is20 inches by 16 inches and in good condition. Frame. Housed behind glass in a beautiful ornate gilt frame. Framed size is 28 inches by 24 inches and in good condition. David Cowan Dobson (1894–1980), referred to as 'Cowan' Dobson ARBA (1919), RBA (1922), was a leading Scottish portrait artist of his day. Dobson was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, the second son of the Scottish portrait painter Henry John Dobson (1858–1928).Dobson started his career in Scotland. He was educated at George Watson's College in Edinburgh and studied art in Edinburgh, London and Paris. In 1918 he was using his father's studio at Dalry. Around 1920 he moved to London and from then on he worked and resided mainly in London. Occasionally, he would work in and around Glasgow. He is said to have rented Kenmure Castle, in New Galloway, Kirkcudbrightshire, in the 1930s and 1940s to entertain and paint fashionable sitters. Dobson mainly worked in oils but also painted some fine water-colour scenes. He painted in the tradition of the academic nineteenth century with mostly a rather darker colour scheme, while his brother Henry, influenced by the Modernist movement in Edinburgh, painted more colourful portraits. Although he painted some fine portraits of well known men, like Earl Attlee, Earl Beatty and Harold Wilson, Dobson also portrayed "fashionable London ladies". Dobson was married to Phyllis Bowyer, who was the brains behind his financial success. She made Dobson one of London's leading society portrait painters. She herself sat for the photographer Alexander Bassano, the resulting portrait now being at the National Portrait Gallery, London. During World War I, Dobson was commissioned by the Royal Air Force section of the Imperial War Museum to paint portraits of three recipients of the Victoria Cross. Dobson painted portraits of Lt. Col. L.W. Brabazon Rees, Sgt Mottershead and Flight Lt. A.W. Beauchamps-Proctor. Dobson first exhibited at Royal Academy when aged only nineteen and began showing at the Royal Scottish Academy four years later. Dobson's works were also exhibited at the Royal Society of Arts, Royal Society of Water-colourers, Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Royal Society of British Artists, Royal Cambrian Academy, Fine Art Society and at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. Dobson enjoyed significant commercial success and thirty-six of his paintings, almost all portraits, are held in UK public collections including Glasgow Museums, The National Galleries of Scotland, Imperial War Museum, Paisley Art...

A dynamic portrait in oil depicting a gentleman playing the guitar. The artist uses loose, gestural brushstrokes and a moody colour palette to reflect the music and create a sense of...

This evocative portrait depicts an elderly figure in traditional attire, seated against a muted background. The artist skilfully captures the subject's weathered features and gentle ...

Michael Carson's (US based) "Portrait of Britt Daniel" is an original, handmade oil painting. About the Artist: Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painter, and graduate of the Minneapolis...

French painter (18th century) - Portrait of Louis XV as a child. 64.5 x 49.5 cm. Antique oil painting on canvas, without frame. Condition report: Lined canvas. Good state of conse...

This painting of a bartender waiting for an order is an unusual composition for Fred Machetanz, who is known for his scenes of Alaska. It has been speculated that this was likely co...

Frida Kahlo is an iconic Mexican artist and a great inspiration to me. She transformed her personal pain into art, a feat that resonates deeply with me. Her surrealistic artwork is c...

After Francisco Goya (Spanish, 1746-1828), "The Duke and Duchess of Osuna and Their Children", Oil on Canvas, 19th century, unsigned, giltwood frame. Image: 25.5" H x 17.5" W; frame:...

Portrait The Honourable Mrs Elizabeth Tufton (Wilbraham), circa 1710 Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723) Large circa 1710 portrait of The Honourable Mrs E...

Expressionist oil on canvas self portrait of the artist Stéphane LOVIGHI-BOURGOGNE. The painting is signed bottom right and is signed and dated to the back of the canvas. Presented i...

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...

Ester before Ahasuerus Dutch School, 17th century circle of Rembrandt oil painting on wooden panel, unframed panel: 28 x 20 inches provenance: private collection, London condition: very good and sound condition for its age though there are old panel splits evident and minor, but stable, paint loss in those areas, as shown in the photos. The subject of ‘Ester before Ahasuerus’ was narrated by the Bible’s Book of Ester (V: 2-34). Here, the Persian King...

The Marriage, 15th/16th Century school of BALDASSARE ESTENSE (1443-1504) Large 15th Century Ferrara School portrait of a husband and wife worshipping outside a small hillside town,...