Oil Portrait Paintings

An enigma by definition is a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand. Such is the subject matter of John Seubert, aka John Grey's painting of the same name. The sphynx-like figure stares out at the viewer holding what appears to be a large bowl. The surreal scene is framed in a repurposed frame that the artist has distressed and painted. It measures 25.5h x 21.5w inches. John Seubert Enigma, 2023 oil on canvas 20h x 16w in 50.80h x 40.64w cm JSE076 John Seubert b. 1958, Chicago, IL In the early Nineties, John Seubert was living in a former hotel in a high-rise building on St. James Place in Chicago. The apartment was tiny, as hotel rooms tend to be, and clad with paper-thin walls allowing sound to pass from one apartment to the other. At the time, John’s artwork consisted of pounding copper sheets into tables which was a noisy endeavor to say the least. Following several noise complaints from the neighbors, John had a dream that he was living in a ramshackle house but with plenty of room to work and no attached neighbors. The following day after lunching at the McDonalds in Lincoln Park, John wandered the neighborhood a came upon a shabby, falling-down old Victorian house. He located the real estate agent, put in an offer, and weeks later was pushing a shopping cart full of his belongings to his new home. This 144-year-old Painted Lady provided a blank canvas for this inimitable artist. For many years the house remained so empty that John was able to ride his Japanese fold up bike throughout the 1st floor. “Some people want to have sex...

Titian painter (16th century - 17th century) Titian Vecellio (1488 or 1490 - 1576) Christ as Salvator Mundi with the Madonna at Prayer Oil on panel (51 x 67 cm. - with tabernacle fr...

English mid century oil painting Portrait of a cute Corgi. Paintings of this breed are very rare and very collected. Kate Gray was a British animal portrait painter during the last...

After Athena was born fully armed from Zeus' forehead, Triton, acting as a foster parent to the goddess, raised her alongside his daughter, Pallas. The sea god taught both girls the ...

This exquisite portrait of a gentleman depicted in a sumptuous black coat edged with silver and slashed sleeves is an excellent example of the type of portrait fashionable in England and the Low Countries during the 17th century. The confident pose, striking orange sash - the colour of the house of Orange Nassau - and the leather gorget imbue the sitter with a sense of masculinity and power. The profusely decorated costume is of the highest quality and de rigueur of an elite class - the artist has carefully cultivated this portrait to emphasise the sitter’s wealth and standing in the society that he belonged to. The casual pose, with one arm resting on a hip, is much less formal than earlier decades, and it speaks of ‘sprezzatura’ – one’s appearance should not appear laborious, but instead, effortless. The oil on cradled panel portrait can be dated to circa 1650 based on the hairstyle and the attire - small falling collar, short doublet (doublets reduced in size to just below the ribcage in the late 1650’s), and the type of slashed sleeves with the sleeve seams left open to reveal the white fabric. The demand for portraits in the Netherlands was great in the 17th century. Bartholemeus van der Helst was considered to be one of the leading portrait painters of the Dutch Golden Age surpassing even Rembrandt as the most sought-after portraitist in Harlaam. The Dutch Golden Age, roughly spanning the 17th century, was a period when Dutch trade, science, military, and art were among the most acclaimed in the world. Dutch explorers charted new territory and settled abroad. Trade by the Dutch East-India Company thrived, and war heroes from the naval battles were decorated and became national heroes. During this time, The Dutch Old Masters began to prevail in the art world, creating a depth of realistic portraits of people and life in the area that has hardly been surpassed. The Golden Age painters depicted the scenes that their discerning new middle-class patrons wanted to see. This new wealth from merchant activities and exploration combined with a lack of church patronage, shifted art subjects away from biblical genres. Still life’s of items of everyday objects, landscapes, and seascapes reflecting the naval and trade power that the Republic enjoyed were popular. The new wealthy class were keen to have their portraits commissioned and many artists worked in this lucrative field. Such was the popularity of art that everyone had a painting, even the humble butcher, and hundreds of thousands of paintings were produced. By tradition the sitter is Maarten Tromp (1598-1653) who was an Admiral in the Dutch Navy (the reverse of the portrait contains an old handwritten inscription “van Tromp”). Certainly, the distinctive orange sash is similar to those worn by officers of the Dutch army in the Netherlands who served under the Princes of Orange and the House of Nassau. However, it should be noted that the physiognomy differs from other images of Tromp. Tromp was the oldest son of Harpert Maertensz, a naval officer and captain. He joined the Dutch navy as a lieutenant in July 1622 and was later promoted from captain to Lieutenant-Admiral of Holland and West Frisia in 1637. In 1639, during the Dutch struggle for independence from Spain, Tromp defeated a large Spanish fleet bound for Flanders at the Battle of the Downs, which marked an enormous change - the end of Spanish naval power. He was killed in action during the First Anglo-Dutch War in 1653 where he commanded the Dutch fleet in the battle of Scheveningen. Gloves were an absolutely vital accessory and the elaborate pair in this portrait are embellished with threads of silk and precious metals and salmon-coloured lining. He wears only one glove and holds the other, providing an opportunity to better display the cuffs and detail on his right wrist and forearm. The gloves are probably made from the most prized leather which came from Spain, in particular from Cordova. Cordovan leather was tanned with a special vegetal process that left it both highly impermeable and divinely soft. King Charles I, posed in a rather relaxed manner for Daniel Mytens’s portrait in 1631, is wearing gloves and boots in matching Cordovan leather. The hide is thick, but you can see just how supple it is from the way the gauntlet dimples and the long boot legs fold over themselves, rippling and wrinkling at the ankles. Apart from keeping hands warm the use of gloves during the 15th through the 19th centuries were full of symbolism and they were worn regardless of the season. They kept the skin unblemished - soft, smooth hands were considered highly attractive. This combination of necessity and proximity to bare skin made gloves a deeply personal gift and they took on a strong symbolic significance and were regarded as emblematic of fidelity and loyalty for hundreds of years. Such was the importance of their symbolism was that some gloves were never intended to be worn at all. Their luxury made them ideal gifts at court, and so in the 15th and 16th centuries, ambassadors often presented them as symbols of loyalty. Until the mid-19th century, it was customary to give gloves as tokens to guests at weddings and to mourners at funerals. Gentleman often gifted their bride-to-be with a pair of gloves (the obligatory gift) and were handed over at the betrothal and put on display before the wedding took place. It was probably their direct contact with the skin that led to the eroticism of gloves. Not only were pairs often exchanged between lovers, but from the 16th to the 18th centuries, it was common practice to remove one glove and give it as a gift to a favourite. The idea of the item being presented still warm from the wearer’s hand is certainly suggestive. Following the death of King George IV, his executors purportedly found over a thousand mismatched ladies’ gloves among his possessions. The sentiment of a 17th-century poem reveals the popularity of the practice: “Come to our wedding to requite your loves / Shew us your hands and we’ll fit you with gloves.” Such generosity might be pricey for the hosts, but gloves of varying quality could be offered depending on the status of the recipient. Pairs made with the finest Spanish leather might be reserved for immediate family, while coarse sheep’s leather could be distributed among the servants and tradesmen. The apportioning of quality according to class provided a very clear message of the gloves’ intended use. For refined guests, they were decoration; for the lower classes, they were functional. Bartholomeus van der Helst...

French Academic painter Guillaume Seignac was renowned for his masterful treatment of the idealized nude. His languishing female subjects based on Greco-Roman prototypes were and rem...

The fifth emperor of Rome, Nero was the last in the Julio-Claudian dynasty line of emperors following his suicide. Nero was popular with the lower-class Roman citizens during his tim...

A charming relic of a bygone era, this rare oil is the work of the inimitable American illustrator, Norman Rockwell. The iconic artist’s ability to render the details and nuances of ...

French Post-Impressionist painter Georges d’Espagnat captures a charming moment between a mother and her child in this vibrant oil on canvas. Rendered with a studied use of complementary colors and bold brushstrokes, the painting showcases the artist's unique Post-Impressionist style. Remembered as one of the most individualistic artists of the 20th century, his distinctive canvases bring together the loose brushwork of the Impressionists and the bold color palette favored by the Fauves. Together, they achieve a vibrant spontaneity that lends itself well to the carefree subjects of the present work. Masterfully composed, La lecture au jardin moves beyond the Impressionist instinct to capture a fleeting moment on canvas. Rather, d'Espagnat succeeds in creating a deep feeling of harmony in the work. Warm colors are perfectly balanced with cool tones, while vertical and horizontal lines are softened by the curves of the foliage and his subjects' figures. Through his simplification of forms and intentional use of color and line, he creates a scene that is carefully designed and thoroughly modern. A similar view of a mother and her child by d'Espagnat is currently in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York). The Post-Impressionist painter was an individualist since his youth, choosing to forgo traditional schooling in order to independently study the Old Masters in the Louvre. He soon became involved with the most prominent Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters of the age, including Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Paul Signac, who themselves existed outside the traditional norms of French Academic training. In 1891, he exhibited at the Salon des Refusés, and again the following year at the Salon des Indépendants. By 1895, he held his first one-man show in Paris, and just three years later his success earned him a solo show at the prestigious Durand-Ruel Gallery. Between 1905 and 1910 he made several trips to visit Renoir on the Côte d’Azur. Their close friendship resulted in a group exhibition at Marcel Bernheim...

A masterful example of Italian Mannerist painting, this exceptional panel was composed by the renowned Florentine painter Domenico Puligo. Alongside Jacopo Pontormo and Rosso Fiorentino, Puligo is remembered as one of the foremost figures of the Mannerist movement that rose to prominence during the 16th century in Florence. This panel of the Virgin Mary with the Christ child and Saint John the Baptist is a characteristic example of his celebrated devotional images, which grace museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), Museo del Prado (Madrid), Palazzo Borghese (Rome), and Palazzo Pitti (Florence), among many others. Puligo’s skill with color is fully demonstrated in the beautifully preserved work. Considering its age, the vibrancy and the sheer range of color is remarkable. The Virgin Mary’s crimson dress...

"Astral" Hyperrealism Oil Painting 47" x 39" inch by Dmitriy Krestniy ATTENTION: Painting ships rolled in a tube. A look through Dmitriy’s designs reveals a glamorous, feminine, p...

Caravaggio painted "The Incredulity of St. Thomas" with Christ looking down as he pilots Thomas’ hand to his side. Not looking at Thomas or the others, but to his wound. He seems interested in the proof of his embodiment. He wants to know that this is real. He too, questions his body, his life and death. As for the paintings, William uses materials and methods of the Civil War era. The linen on which he paints was in use at that time as well as the tubed oil paints. He is one of the few artists who tacks his canvas to the stretchers using similar tacks that would have been used by Winslow Homer. While he leaves the works unframed for this reason, the artwork could certainly be framed. This artwork is unframed. Contact the gallery for framing options. Reenactment is a material culture where the feel of authentic wool has transformative power. The closer you can recreate the “kit” of the authentic soldier the closer you are to that past. In the pursuit of touching the past there are questions- Is this real? Did this happen? Is this me? Is this us? The gesture of piloting a finger into the side represents these repetitive questions. - William Blake Known for his highly charged depictions of Civil War reenactments, William Blake’s powerful paintings show the recursive bodies of reenactors as they gesture across time. Participating in over 40 reenactment events, Blake currently interprets as the artist-correspondent Winslow Homer at these battle reenactments. He immerses himself in the materiality of his own obsession by constructing period clothes, camping on battlefields, and documenting the reenactment similar to Homer’s documentation of the authentic war. The figures in the paintings reverberate the past with respect and with a desire to educate, humble, and play. With each annual iteration of American Civil War...

This intimate portrait was composed by the Bulgarian-born French Expressionist painter Jules Pascin. Known as the "Prince of Montparnasse," Pascin made a name for himself throughout ...

The blond figure, along with the floating peonies, combine to explore the dynamic between the eternal and the temporal, as well as our own relationship with nature. The gold leaf adds a three-dimensional softness as well as a glow upon which the female figure floats. Her skin is seductively painted; her teal dress falls off her shoulder; white peonies float by; the scene is set for a dreamy visual feast. The painting is framed in a gilt frame. Michael Van Zeyl Peonies in White Light oil and 12K gold leaf on linen wrapped panel 24h x 36w in 60.96h x 91.44w cm EDUCATION 1987-1990 American Academy of Art, Chicago, IL 1999-2000 American Academy of Art, Chicago, IL - Life Drawing & Oil Painting Palette & Chisel Academy, Chicago, IL - Painting & Life Drawing Art Students League, New York, NY - Painting EXHIBITIONS 2017 “Anne Harris...

ARTIST STATEMENT I'm currently working with figures and portraits and combine human forms with botanicals to explore our relationship with natural elements. Capturing the movement of the figure or an expression of a living soul presents endless possibilities and inspiration enabling me to blend with different themes. I've studied classical methods of oil painting with a focus on the 17th century Dutch Masters. The subjects I am drawn to are individuals with character, athletic figures and blooming floral arrangements with elegance and ethereal beauty. The reference for my work comes from my direct observation of natural day light in my north light studio illuminating and blanketing the form of my subjects. I am fascinated and challenged by the process of transforming a flat, blank canvas into the illusion of dimensional form, atmosphere and mood. That process is usually well thought out but sometimes painted direct and use intuition to complete my idea. Both of these methods present challenges but each way fills the void of the other and opens up the possibility of new visual ideas to meet my objective. BIOGRAPHY For Michael Van Zeyl, portraiture is much more than a one-sided translation of the artist’s point of view taking form in a subject. It’s an engaging visual dialogue that renders a soul in light, shadow and pigment, continuing the conversation for future generations to appreciate. While subtle observation and technical skill are only part of Michael’s gift, his experience has honed his craft to the highest standard. His talents were apparent by age seven and he spent subsequent decades mastering a wide range of painting techniques. In particular, 17th century Dutch and 19th century impressionist styles have resonated with him and surfaced in his own works. His formal training began at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, continuing on at Chicago’s Historic Palette & Chisel Academy and the Art Students League in New York, where he studied with the most accomplished artists who also paint directly from life under natural light. Michael is currently a faculty and board member at the Palette & Chisel and has been the club’s most popular instructor for several years. Michael’s work is already appreciated in many public and private collections, such as the United States District Court, University of Chicago, DePaul University School of Law, Chicago Theological Seminary and American Hotel Register. He has received awards from the Portrait Society of America, The Artists Guild, the Oil Painters of America and the 2014 recipient of the Dorothy Driehaus Mellin Fellowship for Midwestern Artists. EDUCATION 1987-1990 American Academy of Art, Chicago, IL 1999-2000 American Academy of Art, Chicago, IL - Life Drawing & Oil Painting Palette & Chisel Academy, Chicago, IL - Painting & Life Drawing Art Students League, New York, NY - Painting EXHIBITIONS 2017 “Anne Harris...

This early to mid-20th-century self-portrait by Henri-Georges Bréard (1873-c.1939) depicts the artist deep in thought. He’s holding a pipe. Henri-Georges Bréard was an accomplished ...

"Large Oil Painting On Canvas Belle époque Art Nouveau With Frame" Georges Redon (1869-1943) is a famous French painter, draftsman, caricaturist, poster designer and engraver. Belle ...

"A troubadour was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages (1100–1350). The texts of troubadour songs deal mainly with themes of chivalry and ...

02 / 10 / 2023 I signed a book contract for Egg Island; it will now go through the publishing process and will be in print next year. I was overwhelmed by the editorial board's fee...

An accomplished portrait study depicting a Swiss gentleman wearing a red waistcoat and feathered hat. Signed to the upper left. Inscribed 'Mohn' meaning 'Poppy' in German. Presented ...

The Lady in Red British School, 20th century signed oil on board, framed in heavy thick wooden frame framed: 30 x 23 inches board: 23 x 16 inches provenance: private collection, UK c...

The Dapper Young Gentleman English School, circa 1820's period oil on canvas, framed framed: 40 x 34 inches canvas: 32 x 27 inches provenance: private collection, England condition: ...

Ritratto del Re di Sardegna Vittorio Amedeo III di Savoia. Ambito di Giovanni Panelalbo. Ritratto di Vittorio Amedeo III di Savoia (Torino, 26 giugno 1726 – Moncalieri, 16 ottobre 1...

Portrait of Franklin Atwood Park, VP of Singer Mfg. Co. Stately portrait of Franklin Atwood Park by Arthur Trevethin Nowell (British, 1862-1940). Park is sitting for a classical por...

PS 238 Le temps des Jonquilles Portrait of a woman with back naked. Structural analysis: Such as Impressionist painting, the subject is firstly a study of light on human body, cr...

Signed lower left “С Wilhemson” possibly leading to Carl Wilhelm Wilhelmson (1866 - 1928), was a Swedish painter, draftsman, graphic artist, art educator and professor at the Royal A...

A Venetian Gentleman 18th Century Venetian School oil painting on board, framed framed: 7.25 x 6 inches board: 5.25 x 4 inches provenance: private collection, UK condition: sound bu...

Urianium Oil Painting on Panel Pareidolia Surrealism Still Life In Stock Daniel Douglas (Dedemsvaart, the Netherlands, 1984) Growing up on the countryside of the Netherlands, Dani...

Portrait of a Gentleman in Ruff Collar and Robes Dutch School, 18th century oil on canvas laid over panel, unframed board: 28.5 x 24 inches provenance: private collection condition: ...

HERVE Jules René (1887-1981) Pond of the Tuileries Garden in Paris Oil on canvas signed low right Old frame gilded with leaves Dim canvas : 46 X 55 cm Dim frame : 67 X 76 cm HERVE J...

This early to mid-17th-century oil on panel depicts Maurice of Nassau (1567-1625), Prince of Orange. It’s a bust-length portrait, presented in a feigned oval, after a full length by ...

Telopa, the father and son of artists, paints women in an elegant Mannerist style that combines classic beauty and mythological, symbolic allegory. A...

Hunt Slonem "Thalo" Green Bunny A gestured bunny rabbit in black on a yellow lime green background. Framed in a vintage oval wooden frame. Unframed: 10 x 8 inches Framed: 14.5 x 12....

Portrait of a Gentleman wearing a Ruff Collar Dutch/ French artist, 18th century oil painting on copper, unframed copper board : 6.75 x 5 inches provenance: private collection, UK co...

This charming portrait by Derbyshire artist Joseph Thraves (1805-1851) depicts a scholar proudly standing with his hand on an open book. It’s likely that the family commissioned this...

This lovely British Victorian oil painting is by noted artist John Eaton Walker. Painted circa 1855 it is portrait in an interior of a beautiful young woman in a yellow satin dress. ...

Austin Howlett's "First Steps" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a tall female figure walking through a snow covered landscape. Artis...

English mid century oil painting Portrait of a Wire Haired Jack Russell terrier. Kate Gray was a British animal portrait painter during the last half of the ...

This spellbinding late 19th-century oil painting by Scottish artist Robert Walker Macbeth RA ROI RWS (1848-1910) depicts a young woman wearing...

Portrait of Henrietta Paulet, Duchess of Bolton, née Crofts, (c. 1682–1730), three-quarter length, standing on a colonnaded terrace wearing an ivory silk gown and holding a sprig of ...

Gustavo Úbeda (1930-1994) - Surrealist scene, Brazil - Oil on panel Oil measures 61x91 cm. Frameless. The painting by Gustavo Úbeda Romero (Herencia, 1930 – Sao Paulo, 1994) comes from a family of painters by aesthetics and by kinship. Brother of the painter Agustín Úbeda and the photographer Ángel...

Portrait of a Man with a Hat holding a Pipe French School, signed and dated 1903 oil on canvas, unframed canvas: 21.75 x 18 inches provenance: private collection, France condition: s...

Stately portrait circa 1900 of a woman in dark clothing with a green collar which is a copy of a similar portrait by Frank Duveneck 1875-1879. The woman i...

The Tax Collectors Italian School, early 18th century oil on copper panel, framed framed: 14 x 11.5 inches copper panel : 11.5 x 9 inches provenance: private collection, UK conditio...

"Man Looking Southeast. Oil Painting"": Figurative Painting 36" x 55". Mixed technique. Oil and acrylic on canvas made with professional Rembrant and Winsor & Newton colors protected...

'Radiant Muse: Inspired Cubist Portrait', oil on board, the German School (circa 1970s). A very alluring painting with warm earth tone hues both vibrant and muted. Clearly inspired b...

French Impressionist artist, circa 1930 oil on canvas, unframed canvas: 22 x 18 inches provenance: private collection, France condition: very good and sound condition

Jackie Robinson’s son David and granddaughter Nubia - oil painting by Beverly About the artist, Beverly Bigwood Award-winning Artist Beverly Bigwood (Bigwood Art) received the highe...

Annibale Carracci (Bologna, 1560 - Rome, 1609) Workshop of Polyphemus and Galatea (or Polyphemus in love) First half of the 17th century Oil on canvas 75 x 62 cm. - In antique fram...

Unsigned. Well presented in a gilt composition frame. On panel.

Signed to the lower right. On canvas on stretchers.

A late 19th century oil sketch of a society figure. Though not signed the work is by repute and very much in the style of Charles Auguste Émile Durand. Presented in modern gilt and p...

Large English School Portrait of lady with Oranges. Circle of Michael Dahl (1659 - 1743). The painting finds many similarities with the stylistics and setting of portraits of the Pet...

Portrait of a Bavarian gentleman smoking a pipe. Signed lower right. Presented in a beautiful veneer frame. On canvas on panel.

Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authent...

Canvas size 81x100 cm. Frame size 94x113 cm. Alvar Suñol Alvar Suñol Munoz-Ramos, commonly known as Alvar, was born in 1935 in Montgat, Spain, a Catalan fishing village on the Medit...

No one could successfully juggle tomatoes except for Gary, one of the founders of heirloom tomatoes. His joy is unbounded here as he miraculously plays with his food. (The artist adm...

Marie Louise Bion (Swiss, *1858 ; † 1939) • Portrait of a young Woman • Oil on canvas • Stretcher ca. 56 x 46 cm • Original 19thC frame ca. 68 x 59 cm • Signed and dated ‘ 7/85 ’ ...