Geza Vastagh

This 19th-century oil on mahogany board titled 'The Cut Finger' by William Hemsley, R.B.A., depicts a familial pairing in a cottage home. The girl tends to the eponymous cut with a white cloth pressed on the boy's finger. A dim light is cast from the window to the left, illuminating a cut loaf of bread, a knife, and simple stoneware to set the scene. The girl sits in a wooden chair wearing a salmon-colored blouse, while the young boy is dressed in a golden overshirt. William Hemsley, R.B.A., (1819-1906) was a prolific draughtsman and painter of genre scenes depicting English provincial life. Hemsley’s scenes of everyday reality, which were usually painted on a small scale, follow the gentle tradition of Webster and F. D. Hardy. He was, like them, fond of painting children at play. Many of his works depicted rustic domestic scenes, leading to him being described as "pre-eminently the painter of cottage life". He was also a member of the Society of British Artists. He exhibited frequently in London, particularly at the Royal Academy and the Suffolk Street Gallery. This gentle painting faithfully represents a moment between two people caring for one another. Hemsley painted in a style reminiscent of earlier golden-age Dutch genre painting, using light and color in a vibrant but elegant manner—signature on the lower left-hand corner. In the 19th century, it was common to paint on wood due to its durability, smooth surface, and long-standing tradition. Wood panels were preferred for their sturdiness and versatility, suitable for detailed artworks and various shapes and sizes. While wood was popular, especially for smaller works, canvas started gaining popularity later in the century for its lighter weight and ease of use. This rustic genre scene resides in an ornate Louis XIV Régence style convex frame with foliate shell cartouche corners, strap work, and c-scrolls on a cross-hatched ground with white pigment dispersed throughout. In the early 18th century the Louis XIV styles blended into the Régence frame style (c.1715-1723) which placed greater emphasis on the corners and centers. The full Regency style was both opulent and delicate, with the order and linearity of this period giving way to the swirling delicacy of the Rococo. This painting would be a wonderful addition to a home office, entryway, or library...

This 19th-century English oil on canvas captures a vivid sporting scene with striking clarity and charm. Set in an expansive wooded landscape with a winding river, the composition fe...

This whimsical 19th-century oil on canvas, attributed to Thomas Webster R.A (1800-1886), depicts two young boys spying inside of a sealed letter, careful not to break the seal. The s...

A beautifully painted portrait of a handsome young man from the Danish modern school dating from the late 19th century, in a carved gold frame from the same period. The painting is ...

William Manners (1860–1930), Pair of Autumn Hunting Scenes, 1890 There is a quiet stillness to these two small paintings. Painted in 1890 by British artist William Manners, each dep...

This charming oil on mahogany board depicts a portrait of a young woman in typical early 19th-century fashion surrounded by foliage while she sits on a rock tending to her shoe. Hous...

19th Century China Trade Pair of Portraits of Sea Captain and Wife, circa 1850s, matched pair of Chinese Export oil on canvas full length portraits of a Sea Captain and his wife, painted on commission in Hong Kong or a related China Trade port. The captain wears a double breasted wool greatcoat over a high collar white shirt with bow tie, black waistcoat...

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this Nautical oil painting titled Off The Wharf which is after William Anslow Thornley 1858-1898 A very dra...

You are viewing a large Victorian revival oil painting showing a vivid floral spray Good size at almost six feet wide - 180 CM Very vivid piece that will add light and energy to any ...

Beautifully painted oil on canvas in its period and original giltwood frame, the canvas relined and the frame completely restored. Of note in the painting are the peacock feather in...

A Charming 19th-Century Watercolour of Coursing Greyhounds or Lurchers Framed, glazed, and signed in pencil. This beautifully executed sporting watercolour captures a dynamic scene ...

The 19th century oil-on-canvas painting shows a gathering of roosters, hens, chicks and ducks in front of two farm buildings. The black frame in edged in gilt. The painting is wired for hanging. There is an artist's signature. Farm yard scene.