Vancouver - Wall Decorations

A 19th C three quarter length portrait of an aristocratic gentleman with his personal valet shown behind him. The young man with flowing long hair is portrayed from the waist up and ...

A large oil on canvas depicting a youthful father with his three children, two of which are behind him playing musical instruments, the daughter with her harp and son playing the flute. A third child with his back to the painter faces his father. The painting is presented in a carved and gilded wood frame. Like the great majority of Opie's work, this painting is not signed or stamped. Opie lived at No 8 Berners Street where he moved in 1791, the street famous for artists, composers and instrument makers. Jacob Erat the famous harp maker lived in the neighbourhood and moved to 23 Berners Street before his death in 1821. This painting could be the painting referenced in John Jope Rogers, "Opie and his Work" Truro 1878, Page 220, entitled 'Musical Party'. Provenance: Charles St. George Quechee, Vermont; New England Private Institution; Sotheby's New York April 7, 1989, Lot 1, as John Opie, Portrait of a Gentleman and his three children; Private collection Connecticut. John Opie RA, (May 1761 – 1807), was a Cornish historical and portrait painter. He painted many great men and women of his day, including members of the British Royal Family, and others who were most notable in the artistic and literary professions. Opie's artistic abilities eventually came to the attention of a local physician and satirist, Dr John Wolcot (Peter Pindar). Recognising a great talent, Wolcot became Opie's mentor, buying him out of his apprenticeship and insisting that he come to live at his home in Truro. Wolcot provided invaluable encouragement, advice, tuition and practical help in the advancement of his early career, including obtaining many commissions for work. In 1781, Opie moved to London with Wolcot, having entered into a formal profit-sharing agreement with him. Although Opie had received a considerable artistic education from Wolcot, the doctor chose to present him as a self-taught prodigy. A portrait of a boy shown at the Society of Artists the previous year had been described in the catalogue as "an instance of Genius, not having ever seen a picture." Wolcot introduced the "Cornish wonder" to leading artists, including Sir Joshua Reynolds, who was to compare him to Caravaggio and Velazquez, and to prospective patrons. The business arrangement with Wolcot lasted for a year after which Opie informed the doctor that he now wished to go it alone, leading to the estrangement of the two former partners. Through the influence of a Mrs Boscawen, Wolcot managed to have Opie introduced at the court of King George III. The king purchased one of his pictures and commissioned him to produce a portrait of Mary Delany...

Three small 18th century engravings of fountains at the gardens of Versailles by renowned Parisian engraver Antoine Aveline. All three are pr...

An exceptionally executed oil on canvas Baroque painting depicting "lovebirds" Paolo Malatesta and Francesca Da Rimini whispering to one another. At the feet of Paoio there is a dog symbol...

An English 18 century engraving titled "Man of the Sandwich Islands, with his helmet " signed .J. Webber del. J.K. Sherwin sc. The subject was sk...

A beautifully executed and rare complementary pair of oil on canvas paintings depicting two of the moist famous and important counter reformation catholic saints St Francis Xavier and St Carlo Borromeo shown in scenes of what the respective saints are mostly famous for. St Francis Xavier for the conversion to Christianity of many S. E Asian countries notably India and St Carlo Borromeo shown asking the Virgin Mary to intercede for the cessation of the terrible plague of 1576. The paintings are presented in refreshed gilded carved wooden frames and are unsigned. St. Francis Xavier was born in Spanish Navarre in 1506 and in 1528, he met St. Ignatius of Loyola. He became one of the seven in 1534 who founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order). In 1536, he left the University of Paris and joined St. Ignatius in Venice. He was ordained in 1537, and in 1540 after the Society was recognized by the Pope, he journeyed to the Far East. Francis Xavier first evangelized the Portuguese colony of Goa in India, then Travancore, Ceylon, Malacca, and the surrounding islands. From there he journeyed to Japan, where he gave Christianity such deep roots that it survived centuries of violent persecution. He died on Sancian Island in 1552, while he was seeking to penetrate into the great forbidden land of China. Despite language problems, lack of funds, resistance from the Europeans as well as the natives, he persevered. St. Francis converted more people in his life than anyone since the Apostle St. Paul. He baptized over 3 million people, converted the entire town of Goa in India, and he labored in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Japan. He was truly a missionary par excellence. St Carlo Borromeo (1538-1584), was a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Catholic Church and Archbishop of Milan from 1565 to 1583. He was described in the decree for his canonization, as “a man, even while the world smiles on him with the utmost flattery, he lives crucified to the world, spiritually, trampling earthly things, seeking continuously the things of heaven, emulating the life of the Angels on earth, in his thoughts and actions. The plague began in the month of August that year. Milan was celebrating joyfully the arrival of Don John of Austria, on his way to Flanders, where he had been appointed governor. The city authorities were abuzz with excitement in their desire to bestow the highest honours on the Spanish prince, but Charles, who had been Archbishop of the diocese for six years, was following with concern the news coming from Trento, Verona and Mantua, where the plague had begun claiming victims. The first cases exploded in Milan on August 11th, right at the moment when Don John of Austria arrived. The victor of Lepanto, followed by the governor, Antonio de Guzmán y Zuñiga, departed the city, while Carlo Borromeo, who was in Lodi for the Bishop’s funeral, returned in haste. Confusion and fear reigned in Milan and the Archbishop dedicated himself completely to assisting the sick and ordering public and private prayers. Dom Prosper Guéranger sums up his infinite charity in this way: “In the absence of local authorities, he organized the health service, founded or renewed hospitals, sought money and provisions, decreed preventive measures. Most importantly though, he took steps to ensure spiritual help, assistance to the sick and the burial of the dead. Unafraid of being infected, he paid in person, by visiting hospitals, leading penitential processions, being everything to everyone, like a father and true shepherd” St. Carlo was convinced that the epidemic was “a scourge sent by Heaven” as chastisement for the sins of the people and that recourse to spiritual measures was necessary to fight against it: prayer and penitence. He rebuked the civil authorities for having placed their trust in human measures rather than divine ones. “Hadn’t they prohibited all the pious gatherings and processions during the time of the Jubilee? For him, and he was convinced of it, these were the causes of the chastisement. The magistrates who governed the city continued to oppose public ceremonies, out of fear that the large gathering of people would spread contagion, but Charles “who was guided by the Divine Spirit” – recounts another biographer – convinced them by citing various examples, among which was the one regarding St. Gregory the Great who had halted the plague devastating Rome in 590. While the pestilence spread, the Archbishop then ordered three general processions to take place in Milan on the 3rd, 5th and 6th of October, “to placate the wrath of God”. On the first day, the Saint, despite it not being the Lenten season, placed ashes on the heads of the thousands gathered, exhorting them to penitence. Once the ceremony was over, the procession went to the Basilica of St. Ambrose. Charles put himself at the head of the people, dressed in a hooded purple robe, barefoot, penitential cord at his neck and large cross in his hand. The second procession led by the Cardinal headed towards the Basilica of San Lorenzo. The third day the procession from the Duomo headed for the Basilica of Santa Maria at San Celso. St. Carlo carried in his hands a relique of Our Lord’s Holy Nail, which had been given by the Emperor Theodosius to St. Ambrose in the 5th century. The plague didn’t show any signs of waning and Milan appeared depopulated, as a third of its citizens had lost their lives and the others were in quarantine or didn’t dare leave their homes. The Archbishop ordered about twenty stone columns with a cross at the top to be erected in the main squares and city crossroads, allowing the inhabitants from every quarter to take part in the Masses and public prayers - from the windows of their homes. One of Milan’s protectors was St. Sebastian, the martyr the Romans had recourse to during the plague in 672. St. Charles suggested that the magistrates of Milan reconstruct the sanctuary dedicated to him, which was falling into ruins, and to celebrate a solemn feast in his honour for ten years. Finally in July 1577, the plague ceased and in September the founding stone was laid in the civic temple of St. Sebastian, where on January 20th every year, even today a Mass is offered to recall the end of the scourge. St.Carlo Borromeo died on November 3rd 1584 and was buried in the Duomo of Milan. His heart was solemnly translated to Rome, in the Basilica of Saints Ambrose...

A late 18th century copy of a painting by Claude Lorrain titled, "Port scene with the Villa Medici" the original painted in 1637 and now hanging in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Th...

An oil painting on canvas showing a portrait of a classical maiden depicted as a vestal virgin dressed in classical attire, having chestnut hair concealed by a guarnello or thin veil and holding a Roman oil lamp. The painting signed “F. Hofelder" on the lower right of the canvas was executed circa 1873 almost 100 years after the original by the late 18 Century neoclassical Swiss artist Angelika Kauffman. The virtually unknown Polish artist is likely to have copied the original painting hanging at the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Old Masters Picture Gallery) in the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen, Dresden, Germany. The Swiss-born artist Angelica Kauffman...

Acquired from 2011 Solo exhibition at a gallery in Vancouver Canada titled "The Road to Abstraction " by mixed-media artist Judith Myers. This exhibition of works is the inspired result of a recent trip to Holland where she participated in a workshop on a canal boat studying in depth the history of the Dutch Masters and practicing traditional techniques using contemporary materials. Judith Myers was born in Toronto, Canada and trained in Modern dance before embarking on a career in visual art. Her passion for the abstract expressionists gave inspiration to move to Europe in 1980 where the artistic ambiance was prevalent and conducive for a Canadian to study and integrate with the artists of the European community. Arriving in Amsterdam with a background in teaching modern dance was the introduction that paved the way to being welcomed into learning ceramics, drawing, painting and mixed media. It took only a short time before her work was on display in exhibitions in Holland, France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. She is presently living and working in Vancouver, British Columbia Exhibition History 2013 Tate Gallery, Port Hope...

A spectacular flemish 17 century combined verdure and mythological handwoven wool tapestry in a simple palette of beige, green, brown and blue, framed with a complete floral border and its original protective burlap backing .Combining romanticism, classicism and baroque artistry, this tapestry is a quintessential example of this highly evolved art form that flourished in Dutch-influenced Flanders throughout the 17th century. The exact mythological event represented by the tapestry is unfortunately not known and I urge viewers and readers of this write up who may recognize the scene to please contact us with the information, for which we would be greatly appreciative. The scene depicted by the tapestry revolves around three life-size classically draped figures with the leading protagonist consisting of a plumed helmeted and uniformed high ranking Roman official in the foreground taking up the entire left hand side of the tapestry. The official is holding the hand of a young woman and is pointing in the direction of a partially visible masted galleon suggesting a departure or a sea faring...

A set of three original copperplate engravings by the renowned Parisian 18th century Engraver Antione Aveline ( b 1718 - d 1762 ). The three engravings are numbered 62, 64 and 45 and were commissioned with the permission of the Louis XV the King of France at the time. All three engravings show views and perspectives of features in the gardens of Versailles...

A pair of original oil paintings on canvas depicting a handsome young aristocratic couple of the Directoire, early Empire period. They are each pictured from the waist up, she holdin...

A large and beautiful three quarter length portrait of a partly seated lady her hat over one arm holding a bouquet of flowers, the other arm held upward holding a branch of a tree. This original oil on canvas by the British artist Laurence Koe, (1863-1913), is signed on the lower right and dated 1905. Lawrence E. Koe was a portrait painter and sculptor. He is listed as living in Brighton when he first exhibited at The Royal Academy in 1891, but by 1894 he had moved to London where he appears to have settled for the remainder of his life. Koe exhibited widely; over twenty times at The Royal Academy, but also at the R.O.I, The Royal Society of Artists in Birmingham and the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. Most of his exhibited works were portraits, and among his sitters were the wives of fellow artists Harold Speed RP (1872-1957) and Harold Piffard (fl. 1895-1899). In 1896 Koe exhibited “Venus and Tännhauser” at the Royal Academy, now in the permanent collection in the Brighton Museum and Art and he showed a painting of Sappho two years later. He clearly shows the influence of other artists working at the same time, notably Singer Sargent, Arthur Hacker RA (1858-1919) and Herbert James Draper...

A finely carved partially Italian gilded corner bracket, silver leafed and painted with a dark green veined marble top bordered in gilded bronze. The rounded top supported by two carved palm frond...

A rare 18 century perspective view engraving of the Salon de la Menagerie at Versailles, attributed to Antoine Aveline retailed in Paris by Nicolas Langlois and executed with the per...

A museum worthy large painting depicting travellers before the falls of Tivoli outside of Rome, with the Temple of Vesta in the background, after the 18thC French artist Claude Joseph Vernet...

A romantic 18th century oil painting on canvas depicting two young couples in an idyllic landscape, the figures sitting by a stream beside a garden folly, their pets with them. The two men serenade the women with their stringed instruments. The subject matter and style of painting...

An early 20th century oil painting of the coastline off the Isle of Capri, near Naples painted in the impressionist style, showing rocky cliffs and the azure Mediterranean sea. The painting is titled ‘Capri’ and is signed Matteo Sarno...

An extremely true to the original work by Scottish-born artist Sir David Wilkie, (1785–1841) now displayed in the Tate Gallery in London The painting ...

A finely carved and water gilt pine Italian corner bracket displaying period Empire military attributes. In front of the curved middle section, (of three), is a large feathered helme...

A very suggestive oil painting of a beautiful bare breasted woman which could be a prostitute or a temptress leaning out a mindow offering a rose bud to an admirer, and seemingly encouraged to do the gesture be a woman half hidden behind the curtain. This work was executed by an obscure artist named Emil Preuss (German, 1866-1950). After an original titled "Le Bouton Rose" by Antoine Wiertz...

A signed oil on canvas of the Grand Canal in Venice by the 19th century English Italian artist Francis Moltino. Francis Moltino (1818–1874) was an Italian painter, resident in London...

A finely carved and water gilded wood corner bracket, the top supported by three stylized birds. Likely English, mid-19th century.  

A pair of armorial Ormolu mounts and Turquin grey marble wall plaques presented in mahogany frames with gilded bronze mounts and banding.

A fine and rare painting of a kneeling cupid holding a quiver, shown against an idyllic background. The style and subject matter are similar to works by Venetian masters from the 16t...

A very well executed and suggestive view from and accenting the "derriere" of female nude lying in a semi fetal position on a sheepskin rug in front of a roaring fireplace. The nude has her head pointing and looking upwards puffing contentedly on a cigarette. A cup and saucer for coffee are shown in the foreground. A jug and washbasin plus a towel set on a Napoleon!!! Table off to one side of the fireplace plus other furnishings in the background place the scene as a late 19th century Parisian Belle Époque salon. The painting is signed De Groux...

An early/mid-19th century Italian clock painting indistinctly signed on the lower right corner. The oil painting is set in a period Empire gilt frame and d...

A rare complicated music clock behind a fine oil on canvas painting of the Quai De Brancas In Nantes, France. The painting of the Quai at Brancas on the Ri...

An old master style 18th century allegorical painting representing youth and old age, and/or beauty and wisdom, depicted by a beautiful young ...

A Grand Tour heavy bronze bas-relief of a classical scene showing a retinue of six figures consisting of two nude standing males and three classically draped maidens including Athena...

An oil painting on canvas of a wintry alpine landscape at sunset by Russian early 20th century artist Victor Emanuelov (Russian, 1884–1940). THe artist painted almost exclusively w...

A pair of early 19 Century period framed and matted engravings of neoclassical urns from the copper plate catalogue of Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778) engraved posthumous...

A fine half length portrait of a powder wigged 18th century French aristocratic gentleman simply dressed in a brown waistcoat over an embroidered buttoned vest in which he has placed...

An impressionist oil on canvas showing day to day Industrial and merchant shipping activity on the Seine at the town of Rouen France right on the cusp of the break out of World War II 1939, The canvas is by Roger Bertin. It is signed and dated on the left hand corner of the canvas. The artist also inscribed the word Rouen with his signature leaving no doubt where the work was executed. The painting is presented in a gilded period frame, Bertin was born in Paris in 1915. His godfather was the poet and painter Max Jacob...

A Classic romantic movement oil painting on wood panel depicting two lovers. They are dressed in Renaissance almost theatrical garments and they sit intimately close to one another on a bench. The atmospheric background is set in the middle of a wooded park in the early evening hours before dusk. Their faces are almost in shadow as the brilliant orange/red sun sets behind them. The painting is signed F. Heilbuth on the right hand bottom corner of the canvas and is dated ’76 in reference to 1876. It is set in a gold painted wood frame. Biography Ferdinand Heilbuth, (1826-1889), was a German-born French painter. He was born in Hamburg in 1826, and died in Paris in 1889 having become a French citizen in 1876, the same year he painted this work. He is buried in Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris. This genre painter whose talent has the characteristics of nobility, liveliness of color and accent in expression, exhibited many times at the Royal Academy in London. His works were also shown in the Grosvenor Gallery...

The oil painting on canvas is of a young boy 'hugging' his dog, which lies on the boy's lap. It is very much in the style of the Scottish painter Henry Raeburn. The boy is dressed in...

A fully restored small northern Italian Baroque painting on canvas that may have been painted as a study, (or what is referred to as a bozzet...

An unsigned canvas depicting two bearded ‘Renaissance’ gentlemen painted from the waist up in a loving posterior embrace. The painting is very likely English late 17th or 18th century. Relined well over a hundred years ago which suggests that the work may be 17th or 18 century. Presently in a contemporary, compatible frame. The canvas relining was done by John Peel who was active in London in the early 19thC. John Peel worked from Golden Square, London 1819, 7 Naylors Yard 1820-1834, 17 Golden Square 1832-1843, 17-18 Golden Square 1844-1858, 12 Marlborough Row as carver and gilder...

An exquisite and rare late 18th century oil on copper plate of a reclining nude by Austrian artist Adam J. Braun, (1748-1827) in the manner ...

A beautifully executed early 20th Century oil on canvas marine painting. Signed Charles Langenbeck ( 1873-1943) dated 1906 and presented in a robust carved giltwood frame. The paint...

An atmospheric oil painting depicting a seaside with sunlit high sand dunes in the forefront and in Stark contrast a dark stormy sky in the background with seagulls overhead. Small sailing ships can be seen in the distance. Climbing the dunes is a shepherdess and her small flock of sheep grazing on meagre offerings along the dunes. A young couple can also be seen sitting on the beach in the background. The painting is in its original carved and gilded frame. Signed James Webb and dated 18_7 on the bottom right hand corner of the canvas. Why the artist omitted the "decade" digit and put an underscore instead is a mystery. The painting is set in an intricately carved gilded frame which has been professionally restored. James R Webb...

Classical late 19th century English school marine painting showing a large sailing ship out at sea in what appears to be the coast of England waiting for the return of a rowboat filled with fishermen. The smaller boat is hauling nets from where a river estuary with its brackish colored water meets the blue sea. Painted on board and set in a gilded period frame; signed by an English Victorian artist W.B Webb...

A 19th century engraving of a young Mozart playing the harpsichord in the court of Hapsburg Emperor Francis I featuring the Emperor and a number of cou...

A set of eight English engravings of classical subjects titled: Bacchus Reeling; Apollo & Marsyas; Egyptian Symbols; Cupid Embracing Psyche; Mercury; D...

A happy and colourful painting of a smiling young woman holding a basket of flowers in an open fruit and flower market. People mill around her at other tented stalls picking and choo...

A pair of French Aubusson tapestries woven in the mid-19th century. Originally intended to hang between windows in a formal French salon, but today could be hung on walls anywhere. W...

A complementary pair of 19th century Italian paintings in the "chiaro scuro" style depicting pilgrims gazing intently with a certain degree of sentimental...

A farming scene depicting a man sitting side-saddle on his white horse with a riding crop in his left hand. There are actually two horses (he sitting on ...

Portrait of a young Russian or French girl executed in charcoal and gouache on paper. Harlamoff was most renowned for his masterful portraits of young girls of which this is a fine example, chosen for their charming and innocent beauty. Signed lower left A. Harlamoff. Signed on the reverse Alexei Harlamoff. Alexei Harlamoff was born in the village of Dyachevka near Saratov on the Volga. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, and he won both a Gold Medal and a scholarship in 1868. The scholarship enabled him to travel to Paris, where he studied under portrait painter Léon Bonnat, and by 1874 he was visited by Russian marine painter Alexei Bogoliubov, who reported back to Russia on the young artist’s visible success. In 1875, Harlamoff exhibited his portraits of Louis and Pauline Viardot to great acclaim, marking a turning point in his career. French writer Emile Zola...

An atmospheric impressionist style water colour of the skyline of the English University Town of Cambridge all done in pastel inspired colours. The work is boldly signed Barclay at t...

A signed oil painting on canvas of a man walking on a path beside a stream at dawn/dusk by Hungarian artist Barkasz Lajos (1880-1960). The canvas is ...

A highly rare and most unusual pair of carved walnut gun racks, each with a different carved bird at the bottom, one being a hawk or eagle with spread ...

A calming bucolic painting of a shepherd herding his flock of sheep back home at sunset along a country lane assisted by his sheepdog. The painting is presented in a gesso carved g...

Two Faience de Rouen busts on plinths spuriously inscribed "Fait a Rouen 1647" and blue fleur-de-lys marks after original models made in Circa 1730 by...

This original oil painting on canvas depicts a beautiful young girl standing in a landscape. She wears a pink dress with flowers in her hair an...

An extraordinary rare 18th century portrait panel of what appears to be Christopher Columbus (or a classical philosopher) entirely made from various types and treatments of inlaid w...

A 19th century steel plate engraving depicting the Banishment of Cleombrotus after the original by Benjamin West oil on canvas painting executed in 1768 and held at the Tate Gallery. The engraving is presented with beige matting and a gilded wooden frame. Benjamin West showed this painting at the second exhibition of the newly formed Royal Academy. After several years in Italy, West had established himself in London as the leading painter of subjects from classical history...

A well painted colorful oil painting showing a lady walking in a treed landscape towards a town in the distance, presented in a gilt/gesso frame; signed Paul Rubens; likely English, ...