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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: paulanthony262003 on Monday 13 July 15 12:33 BST (UK)
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This portrait of my ancestor hangs at my grandmother's house.
It was left to her, by her father, my great-grandfather, who lived 1893-1959.
I think it might be one of three ancestors:
my 2xgreat-grandfather, 1865-1934,
my 3xgreat-grandfather, 1832-1904,
my 4xgreat-grandfather, 1800-1841.
Although it could conceivably be my 5xgreat-grandfather who lived 1760-1836.
Unfortunately, it is not signed or dated on the front, and I am not allowed to remove it from the wall to see the back for labels or other clues of who painted, when or where.
I'd appreciate some thoughts and opinions on this please.
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This portrait of my ancestor hangs at my grandmother's house.
It was left to her, by her father, my great-grandfather, who lived 1893-1959.
I think it might be one of three ancestors:
my 2xgreat-grandfather, 1865-1934,
my 3xgreat-grandfather, 1832-1904,
my 4xgreat-grandfather, 1800-1841.
Although it could conceivably be my 5xgreat-grandfather who lived 1760-1836.
Unfortunately, it is not signed or dated on the front, and I am not allowed to remove it from the wall to see the back for labels or other clues of who painted, when or where.
I'd appreciate some thoughts and opinions on this please.
Im no expert, but its looks 1700's etc. Ask granny nicely, to let you see the back! :)
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Possibly 4th or 5th great grandfather.
It may not have been contemporay though - my initial mpression is that it was painted more recently than during either of those men's lifetimes. :)
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Hi Paul...how big is the framed picture? I'm thinking 3 x Great Grandfather.
Carol
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Hi Paul...how big is the framed picture? I'm thinking 3 x Great Grandfather.
Carol
Hi Carol, thank you,
It is roughly similar to A3 size, maybe slightly smaller but certainly not larger than that.
A variety of opinions so far on this topic, any expert opinions please?
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I'm not an expert, but 4X 1800 to 1841 is best fit. Towards the end of his life I'm afraid.
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The sitter appears to be in his 20s ... I am guessing.
I would think there is no harm in taking it off the wall and looking for clues at the back of the framed painting. :-\ (if you, do please take some photos which may help ID it). Without seeing it in the flesh it is difficult to judge the age of the painting, but looking at the back might at least give clues as to when it was (last) framed.
I don't think it is a professionally painted portrait - possibly executed by a competent amateur. It may even have been painted by a family member.
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I'm not convinced that this is a painting...I would stick my neck out and say this is a hand tinted 1860s enlargement. There doesn't appear to be any texture to it and the facial proportions appear more photographic.
Just my opinion.
Carol
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It is difficult to see from the photo, but it does appear to be quite 'flat', and I was going to ask about the texture and if the paint was cracked at all. What struck me was the use of overly heavy black (?) to highlight the features of the face. Not a style you would see in the 17/1800s I don't think.
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Interesting image (thanks for letting me know it was here, Carol).
My own thoughts are as follows. Amateur artist, rather a professional painter, but reasonably well executed. As others have said, there is a lack of depth, and an overuse of black shadows (a better painter would have included some reflected colours to bring those shadows to life. Someone more knowledgeable than me should be able to date the clothing, but he looks to be in his twenties, and presumably wearing his most fashionable clothes for the portrait. My instinct would be 3x or possibly 4x GGfather.
Mike
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Possibly 4th or 5th great grandfather.
It may not have been contemporay though - my initial mpression is that it was painted more recently than during either of those men's lifetimes. :)
It was the treatment of the dark shadows that made me question whether it was actually a painting or a black and white enlargement that had been hand tinted.
But if it is a later painting of the 4th or 5th Grandfather...what would the artist have used for reference?
Carol
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That's what I was wondering Carol. An earlier portrait as reference perhaps? Does the portrait actually represent an ancestor or is it 'made up' (a figment of someone's imagination)?
(glad we are thinking along the same lines Mike ;))
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So your grandmother does not know who the subject is?
"...It was left to her, by her father, my great-grandfather, who lived 1893-1959".
If you mean that it was listed as goods, and part of his estate, and your grandmother was specifically named as beneficiary, maybe you can access his Will to see how it was described..........ie ..."the picture in the hall of.........?
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Yes, possibly just a good story, embroidered with time.
I remember an old television program where the picture of "grandfather ' in the hall turned out to be Disraeli, and bought at a junk shop.
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Whatever it is, it's most likely 1830's fashions, see the large lapels. Google mens clothes 1830's images.
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It definitely is a painting because it has texture, it is probably just my low resolution camera-phone filtering out the finer details. Also, the painting hangs in the dark corner of my Nan's dining room, apparently to keep the paint from fading, so perhaps its dark location contributes to it appearing blacker or darker than it actually is.
My Nan told me that it was a private commission, painted by an amateur artist friend of the subject. At least that is what she was told be her father (my great-grandfather) anyway...
My Nan has apparently named me as the beneficiary of this painting in her will, so at some point in time I will have ample chance to discover more about its origins, but in the meanwhile I am interested to read the various opinions here.
Reading these replies so far, I am leaning toward it being my 4xgreat-grandfather (1832-1904).
He was the first generation to move to Bath in 1850, aged 18 similar to the subject, and the family have lived in Bath ever since.
Many thanks, Paul
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My Nan told me that it was a private commission, painted by an amateur artist friend of the subject. At least that is what she was told be her father (my great-grandfather) anyway...
This sounds likely to me. I wish I had a painting of my relatives from that time - you're very lucky.