Unknown Paintings

This rather fascinating arrangement of early 17th century miniatures depicts thirty scenes from the life of Christ. The origins of this collection are unknown but it’s likely that t...

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...

Great Flemish painting from the second half of the 16th century. Oil on panel artwork depicting a fascinating evangelical episode, the Calling of Saint Matthew. A painting of extraor...

"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...

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...

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...

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 ...

English painter (dated 1873) - Mountain landscape with lake. 51 x 77 cm. Old oil painting on canvas, without frame. - Work signed indistinctly and dated lower left: "W. C ... 1873"...

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...

Antique American school realist interior horse barn portrait. Framed. Signed. Oil on canvas. In excellent original condition. Handsomely framed in a lemon gold giltwood molding....

Antique American impressionist coastal seascape painting. Oil on canvas. In excellent original condition. Handsomely framed in a gold giltwood molding. Excellent condition, ready...

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 19th century luminous landscape oil painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Measuring 27 by 37 inches overall and 20 by 30 painting alone. In excellent original condition. ...

Antique French impressionist sheep grazing landscape oil painting. Oil on board. Signed. Framed. Measuring 17 by 20 inches overall and 15 by 18 pai...

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...

A Japanese screen. A six panel, Japanese Byobu screen depicting white birds perched in a pine tree and flying over a flowing river. Provenance: ...

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...

Antique American impressionist landscape oil painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Measuring 20 by 27 inches painting alone. In excellent original condition. Handsomely framed in a gold g...

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...

Floral Still Life with Calla Lilies, Dahlias, and Freesia in Oil on Canvas Bright and vibrant still life of a floral arrangement by an unknown artist (20th Century). This piece is a...

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

California Redwood Forest Fauvist Landscape Oil Painting Vibrant mid-century landscape of California Redwood trees with light streaming throu...

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....

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...

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...

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...

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

#5-3464 Naive contemporary figurative acrylic on canvas applied to a board, set in a black -wood frame painting, signed by Neapolitan artist P.Russo. Image size 9.75 H x 13 W

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...

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...

This remarkable late 16th-century fragment depicts Saint Magí, the patron saint of Tarragona, and Saint Mauro, a Benedictine monk. Produced in around 1580, on the cusp of the Anglo-S...

Signed to the lower right with a monogram. Presented in a swept gilt frame with pierced details. On board.

This serene landscape painting captures the tranquil beauty of the Isle de St Pierre in Switzerland with a gentle shoreline leading to calm waters and distant mountains. Signed and ...

'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...

European Painter (dated 1925) - Mountain landscape. 62 x 41 cm. Old oil painting on canvas, without frame. - Work signed indistinctly lower left. - Autograph inscriptions and dat...

Vintage American modernist landscape oil painting. Oil on canvas. Signed verso. Framed. Measuring 34 by 44 inches overall and 28 by 37 painting alone. In excellent original conditio...

An original landscape painting by the listed British artist Walter Wallis (1853-1934). A Brittany landscape scene with mother and child foraging in the foreground. Well presented 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...

Antique American impressionist beach scene oil painting. Oil on canvas. Signed. Framed. Measuring 27 by 31 inches overall and 20 by 24 painting alone. In excellent original condition...

100 NYC cocktail party oversized oil on canvas signed on verso

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...

Was she a gift to the Sultan, deliciously bejeweled and enrobed in the finest embroidered silks? By this time, resigned to her fate, the once Christian Circassian girl would have bee...

Antique American modernist abstract oil painting. Oil on board. Framed. Signed. Measuring 29 by 35 inches overall and 23 by 29 painting alone. In excellent original condition. Handso...

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

Monogrammed work Oil on copper Wooden carved frame 57 x 47.5 x 5 cm

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.

Antique American Hudson River School coastal seascape. Most likely a view of Maine. Oil on board. Image size, 8 by 12 inches.

A striking 19th-century oil depicting Robert Peel of Knowlmere. Presented in a gilt frame. Unsigned. 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...

Antique American impressionist winter cityscape oil painting. Oil on board. Signed. Framed. Measuring 20 by 24 inches overall and 16 by 20 painting alone. In excellent original cond...

5188 Vintage framed modernist oil painting of trees in a misty forest Image size 20x16"

Red Terrier Possibly Dutch School Oil on wood panel, circa 1900-1910. Initialed lower left 7 1/2 x 7 (12 x 11 1/2 frame) inches A charming and thoughtfully rendered depiction of a t...

5208 Vintage boquet of colored flowers in a table setting Framed Signed Pobai

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 ...

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...

Bathing scene. Miniature painting, framed, under glass, late 19th century. Good condition. Painting (visible): 5.3 x 7.2 cm Frame: 12 x 14 cm

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

Very finely painted 1940 American modernist portrait painting. Oil on canvas. In excellent original condition. Signed. Handsomely framed in a period giltwood molding. Excellent...

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...

Now available, and ready to be hung and enjoyed! Unknown Artist Signed: Clayton ? (Lower, Right) " Still Life ", circa mid 20th Century? Oil on Canvas 36" x 24" Housed in a 3...

"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 ...

Refined 17th century Italian painting. Oil on canvas artwork depicting a splendid Madonna and Child, of remarkable pictorial quality, inspired by the Tuscan school of Andrea del Sart...

A study of the bust of Ferdinand Bol's 'Portrait of A Mathematician' which is currently part of the Louvre Collection in Paris. Unsigned. Presented in a gilt frame. On canvas.

Vintage impasto oil painting beach scene on the French Riviera Signed on verso Nikki 1955

5028 French Patisserie wood panel with a wedding cake Signed on verso

Cecile Hertz-Eyrolles (1875-1974), Oil on canvas. Summer landscape with golden stooks and several grazing cattle. Presented in an elaborate gilt effect frame with floral and acanthus...

Impressive early American impressionist landscape painting. Oil on board. Housed in a period impressionist giltwood frame. Excellent condition.

Very nicely painted and impressive early 1900s American school landscape painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Excellent ready to hang condition.

Artist: Unsigned Mid 20th Century (circa 1950/60) English School Title: "Expansive Birds Eye View Of Exeter Devon High Street" Medium: oil on board Size: 130cm x 70cm inc frame Com...

Beautiful Dutch School painting dating from 17th century. Oil on wood panel measuring 10 3/8 x 14 7/16 inches. Unsigned. No inpainting or conservation. Depicted is a scene with a beautiful young woman singing...

3982 Children riding a giraffe oil on board set in a painted oak frame Image size 15.5x19.5"