Unknown Paintings

A masterful copy by an unknown artist, after the portrait of "Beatrice d'Este" by Leonardo Da Vinci also known as ‘Portrait of a Lady’ or ‘La Dama con la reticella di perle (The Lady With a Pearl Hairnet)’. The original work originally created in the 15th Century is currently on display in the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana Museum of Milan. Beatrice d'Este was the Duchess of Bari/Milan and was believed to be one of the most attractive princesses of the Renaissance. Her impeccable style won her many admirers throughout Italy and France, and she became a trendsetter of the highest order. This copy of the original painting, is an oil on canvas done in the 18th Century, and in this exquisite portrait, the artist has masterfully depicted the fine details with draped hair, pearls, royal dress, ornate headgear and sumptuous jewelry in front of a dark background. Once again, capturing the imagination with another enigmatic smile. It comes housed in an elegant period giltwood frame with ebonized trims and ready to be displayed with hanging wire on verso. Art measures 28 x 18 inches Frame measures 34.5 x 24.5 inches There is much debate and controversy over who actually painted the "Beatrice d'Este" was it Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), or Giovanni Ambrogio de Predis (1455–1508). So we may never know who executed the original portrait which hangs in the museum, but that need not deter from an appreciation of its singularity. Following the portraiture convention established by painters of the Quattrocentro, the artist has chosen to portray his sitter in profile. In doing so, he magnificently captures the essence of his sitter, a girl on the threshold of womanhood. Bedecked in the adornments—silk, velvet, pearls and embroidery (brocade) crafted of spun gold threads—afforded her by birthright and marriage, Beatrice looks forward in noble serenity. And at the same time her profile with its upturned nose and slight smile betrays an innocence that must have been the basis of the oft-repeated epithet: la più zentil donna in Italia” (“the sweetest lady in Italy”). It is believed the lady is Beatrice d'Este (1475-1497), duchess of Bari and later of Milan, the wife of Ludovico Sforza (known as "il Moro"). One of the most beautiful princesses of the Italian Renaissance, she was known for her good taste in fashion. Beatrice was a member of the Este-Sforza family, which joined by marriage two of the oldest reigning and already powerful houses in Italy. The house of Este, which held court in Ferrara, traced its lineage to the 11th century Dukes of Saxony and Bavaria. Beatriceʼs father, Ercole I ruled the Ferrara commune for 34 years, catapulting the city-state (and the Estes with it) to an unmatched level of economic prosperity and cultural prominence. The family was renowned for its love of letters and patronage of the arts. The first time Leonardo da Vinci’s name resounded in the Ambrosiana, it was through the pen of its founder, Cardinal Federico Borromeo, who attributed this little panel to the great Master, describing it as “A portrait of a Duchess of Milan, by the hand of Leonardo”. Following the Cardinal’s statement, the portrait was for long assumed to depict Beatrice d’Este, the wife of Ludovico il Moro. However, scholars have recently been more cautious and vague in their statements, with regard to both the artist (anonymous Lombard or Emilian...

Flemish school, 17th century Orpheus and the animals Oil on canvas, 146,5 x 217 cm Provenance: South German private collection. On an impressive, room-filling format, this painting depicts "Orpheus and the Animals." The harp-playing Orpheus sits centrally in front of a tree whose trunk bifurcates above his head. This central tree frames with its crown the scenery towards the horizon and at the same time offers through branches the possibility for many birds to find space. The left half of the picture is characterized by a seascape, at the edge of which the ruins of a castle can be seen deep in the background. This seascape, framed by mountains on the horizon, is the only area where sky can be seen. On this side, waterfowl such as storks, swans and ducks can be seen. In the right half, the viewer looks into a deep European forest. On this right side, more land animals can be found, such as deer, rabbits and lions, among others. Orpheus wears opulent red and gold trimmed clothing, under his blue breastplate we see a white shirt. His feet are adorned by elaborate sandals. His head is surrounded by a radiant laurel wreath ("poeta laureatus"). The young man is clearly identifiable as the singer and poet of Greek mythology, Orpheus, by his harp, the laurel wreath and the animals surrounding him. Orpheus was one of the Argonauts who, under Jason, was searching for the Golden Fleece. He sang so beautifully that he even conquered the angry sea and enemies by the magic of his lyre. During the journey, Orpheus is said to have drowned out even the sirens with his singing. It is said that he was the greatest of all poets and charmed people, animals, stones and trees with his singing. In total, 51 birds and 37 different species are depicted in the painting. The animals are mostly depicted in great detail and, except for a few, can be identified. Mainly European species of animals are shown. Exceptions are the ostrich-like nandu peeking out from behind the deer, as well as the large parrot on the upper left, and the two lions. Similar is the case for the large animal directly behind Orpheus on the right. The shape of the head suggests an arctic fox from the polar regions, even though the body is much too large. The arctic fox was first described in 1555 by Olaus Magnus. However, it could also be a depiction of a brown or black bear. An unusual detail is the animal, which is relatively isolated in the right background and looks to the left. It is not clearly identifiable, but it shows certain similarities with the Australian kangaroo. This was first described by Vespucci in 1500 and further by Francisco Pelsaert in 1629. If it is indeed a kangaroo, this would be one of the earliest surviving pictorial representations. In this painting, Orpheus is accompanied by a small monkey playing a viola da gamba. This is an iconographic peculiarity. In general, this painting has some peculiarities compared to other paintings with "Orpheus and the animals". The central positioning of Orpheus is quite common, but he usually holds a lyre and is dressed in an antique style, but not as opulently. The choice of animals is also remarkable: European animals in particular are seen, hardly any exotic features, such as camels or elephants. The two lions in the right foreground are a quotation from Peter Paul Rubens and his depiction of "Daniel in the Lion's Den", which was realized in an engraving. The present painting can be classified as belonging to the Flemish School of the 17th century on the basis of its painterly and compositional conception. From the circle of Jan Brueghel the Younger are numerous representations of this Orpheus - theme, which take it as an opportunity to show as many exotic animals. There are also echoes of Spanish painters such as Juan de Arellano...

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...

Artwork sold with frame (50 x 58 x 4 cm)

This evocative antique oil painting on canvas captures a tranquil rural scene bathed in the soft glow of a setting sun. A group of wind-swept trees stands along a peaceful pond, with...

This compelling full-length figure study depicts a girl dressed in traditional Russian folk attire sitting on a chair. Likely painted by a Russian artist in the second half of the 19...

"Florentine Expressions: A Portrait Series V", oil on canvas, mounted on board, Florentine School (circa 1980s-90s). This gallery has acquired a number of paintings through an interm...

"Florentine Expressions: A Portrait Series IX", oil on canvas, mounted on board, Florentine School (circa 1980s-90s). This gallery has acquired a number of paintings through an inter...

This original vintage oil painting on canvas is a beautiful example of Dutch-style winter landscape art, inspired by the Dutch Golden Age and the 19th-century Romantic revival. Sign...

This is an original oil painting on canvas depicting a vessel in the stormy ocean. Beautifully done, with great gentle blue and green colors. Presented in a wood frame. Framed m...

English painter (19th century) - King Charles Cavalier Spaniel dog. 50 x 65 cm without frame, 61 x 77 cm with frame. Antique oil painting on canvas, in a gilded wooden frame. Cond...

A superb c.1840 English School half-length portrait of a lady in an ermine stole and lace cap. The lady's face is flushed with colour as she gazes her chestnut eyes to the left. Tigh...

This 13.5" x 28.5" oil on canvas painting is a seascape, painted in an Impressionistic style. The orientation of the painting is horizontal, the length being more than double the hei...

This is an antique original oil painting on canvas depicting a serene and tranquil scene - the cows gathered around a watering hole with some of them drinking or cooling off in the ...

Unknown Artist “Boat Scene” oil painting on canvas highly decorative. In good condition measures 39x35

French 19' century painting oil on canvas . Young Venus nude figure surrounded by delicious playing putti . Finely carved and gilt-wood frame of the same period . Measurements w...

Set of Eight Apostles each oil on panel each framed (different as some are golden, some are not, please view the photos) So far there is no certain attribution. The style of the ser...

Antique tonalist river landscape painting. Oil on canvas. In excellent original condition. Handsomely framed in a gold giltwood molding. Excellent condition, ready to hang and en...

Up For Sale is a Beautiful Original Oil Painting On board, depicting Parisian street Scene, famous historical place - Triumphal Arch. Presented in a nice gold frame. The frame has ...

'Echoes of the Avant-Garde: Mid-Century Visions XIII', oil on board (circa 1970s), signed OT. Step into a world where the spirit of early 20th-century modernism meets the bold experi...

Circle of A J Munnings c1910 “Hunt Servant” Oil Painting A stylish depiction of a hunt servant astride his hunter painted with confidence and spontaneity....

This vibrant impressionist-style cityscape captures a bustling Parisian street scene, likely from the late 19th or early 20th century. Tall, historic buildings with warmly glowing sh...

An exquisite late 19th century copy of Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun's self portrait of 1791. Engaged with a warm smile, Le Brun airily sets to work on a portrait of Queen Marie Antoinette...

Circle of Les Nabis French School c1910 A stylish painting of a Mediterranean landscape indistinctly signed and dating to around 1910. Les Nabis were a group of post-impressionist...

Fine 19th century tondo oil on canvas, attributed to master equine painter John F. Herring Senior (1795-1865). The painting depicts a groom on horseback exercising a small group of h...

A detailed genre scene depicting three Chelsea Pensioners in scarlet uniform, enjoying the sound of music on the ward. The ornate gilt frame, with its intricate acanthus ornament, be...

Unsigned. Presented in a wooden frame. Acquired from auction with Christie's provenance attached to one of the frame's verso. On board.

Riverside Gathering French Rococo School, 19th century signed indistinctly lower front corner oil on canvas, framed Framed: 26 x 34 inches Canvas: 24 x 32 inches Provenance: private ...

Antique tonalist river landscape painting. Oil on canvas. In excellent original condition. Handsomely framed in a gold giltwood molding. Excellent condition, ready to hang and en...

This striking 19th-century painting signed "A. Malevolti 1877 Florence" is a fine example of the trompe l’oeil tradition, in which artists skillfully render imagery that "tricks the ...

Antique American impressionist landscape oil painting. Oil on board. Framed Signed.

Originally painted for Louis XV's mistress Madame de Pompadour, this sensuous work of voluptuous bathing nudes is a copy of Boucher's "The Four Seasons...

This striking 19th-century painting signed "A. Malevolti 1877 Florence" is a fine example of the trompe l’oeil tradition, in which artists skillfully render imagery that "tricks the ...

Huge Original Maritime Acrylic Painting – Tall Ship at Sea Signed Framed Dynamic Seascape Artwork This huge and stunning original acrylic painting on canvas captures a majestic ta...

A striking 19th-century oil portrait depicting a Victorian gentleman, dressed in his finery. The artist has captured the sitter's proud demeanour, rendering the face in fine detail. ...

This is an original signed antique oil painting on canvas depicting a moody seascape with turbulent waves crashing against a rugged shoreline beneath an overcast sky. The distant ho...

19th Century British School Ship at Sea Oil on canvas laid on panel 11 x 14.5 inches 14.5 x 18 inches, framed

Unsigned. Presented in a substantial wooden frame. Bought from auction with Christies provenance. On paper.

Original Framed Seascape Oil Painting – Crashing Waves at Sunset This beautifully framed seascape oil painting captures a dramatic ocean scene at sunset, where powerful waves crash ...

Southwest Pond. Oil on cardboard, early 20th century. Good condition, needs cleaning. 28 x 23.5 cm.

"Florentine Expressions: A Portrait Series XVII", oil on canvas, mounted on board, Florentine School (circa 1980s-90s). This gallery has acquired a number of paintings through an int...

A charming 19th-century portrait depicting a woman wearing a silk gown lined with lace. In her hand, she holds a small wildflower up to her face as she turns her head to look at the ...

Antique American school abstract expressionist painting. Oil on board. Signed. In excellent original condition. Nicely framed in a period wood molding. Excellent condition, read...

Antique American modernist cityscape oil painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Measuring 27 by 33 inches overall and 23 by 29 painting alone. In excellent original condition. Handsomely f...

This evocative interior scene captures the warmth and character of a rustic colonial-era kitchen, with sunlight streaming through leaded windows to illuminate an array of period furn...

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...

Antique American impressionist fall landscape oil painting. Oil on board, circa 1890. Unsigned. Displayed in a giltwood frame. Image size, 13"L x 9"H.

"Walking Among the Backyard" is a mesmerizing antique oil painting on canvas that transports viewers to the elegant world of 18th-century Europe. The artwork depicts a European lady ...

This mid-17th-century bust-length Flemish school portrait depicts the Dutch Catholic bishop Cornelius Janssen (1585-1638). Painted when into his later years, this intriguing historic...

A charismatic portrait depicting a hunter on the trail, paused, hand out in hesitation as he strains to hear something in the underbrush. Unsigned. Presented in a distressed gilt fra...

Up for sale Original Abstract Acrylic Painting on canvas in a fantasy abstract style. A unique technique, very colorful. An unusual combination of colors, a flow from sharp to soft s...

Vintage cubist abstract oil painting. Oil on canvas. Signed. Framed. Measuring 27 by 34 inches overall and 24 by 30 painting alone. In excellent original condition. Handsomely fram...

Vintage American school modernist abstract painting. Signed. In excellent original condition. Handsomely framed in a wood molding. Excellent condition, ready to hang and enjoy.

A striking modernist scene depicting a hazy street at dusk. Unsigned. Well presented in a gilt frame. On board.

This painting portrays a charming Parisian street scene, rendered in an impressionistic style that captures the city's elegance and vitality. The composition features a broad, cobble...

'Cubist Still Life', gouache on paper, from the Italian School of artists (circa 1940s). Surely this very attractive piece was inspired by Juan Gris (1887-1927) and Georges Braque's ...

This original oil painting on canvas is a traditional pastoral landscape, capturing a serene and idyllic rural scene. The composition is rich in earthy tones, with warm browns, green...

18th Century French School Portrait of an Actress Oil on canvas 30 x 23 inches 36 x 30 inches, framed

A charming landscape painting depicting spring lambs on the high meadows. Signed lower right. On hessian.

Beautiful Post-Impressionist landscape painted in Bloomsbury Group era period and style. Oil on canvas, 18 x 24 inches; 22 x 28 inches framed. Unsigned. Some areas of paint loss as...

Up for sale is an original oil painting on board depicting a majestic tall ship sailing across a vibrant, churning sea. The ship, with its towering masts and fully unfurled white sai...

Pure mid century abstract expressionist painting. Great colors and movement. Oil on canvas. Framed. No signature found.

Spanish School of the 19th Century Santa Justa and Santa Rufina Oil on canvas 40 x 27 cm In quite good condition, the paint surface presents numerous crack...

American modernist abstract architectural oil painting. Framed. Oil on canvas. Image size, 17H by 21L.

A large and impressive study of the Himalayas at sunset, with a small town at the foot of the hills. Presented in a gilt effect frame. Unsigned. On canvas on stretchers.

This dramatic religious painting depicts the crucifixion, with Jesus on the cross surrounded by mourning figures in vibrant robes. Above Christ on the cross, the Latin inscription IN...

Italian Master (17th century) - Danae. 27 x 43 cm without frame, 34 x 50 cm with frame. Antique oil painting on panel, in a carved and gilded wooden frame from the 17th century. C...

Signed Adolfo Perez Frame size 75x64 cm.

Attributed to Austrian genre painter Franz Schams (1823-1883). This intimate oil painting depicts a lively gathering of musicians engaged in a much-needed rehearsal. An apparently di...

This atmospheric painting captures an expansive highland landscape with a stone bridge spanning a tranquil river in the foreground. The artist's skilful use of light and shadow adds ...

'Portraits of Timeless Expressions No. 11', oil on canvas mounted on board, by Florentine School (circa 1980s-90s). This gallery has ...

Up for sale is an original oil painting on canvas, depicting a charming Parisian street scene. The artwork is unsigned and comes unframed. Condition: The painting shows signs of age...

Indistinctly monogrammed Nabis school oil on canvas circa 1915. The work depicts a rocky shoreline with the blue ocean beyond and a clear sky overhead. Signature: Indistinctly monog...