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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Canuc on Saturday 13 May 23 23:17 BST (UK)
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This is a copy of a copy of the original artwork, we don't know who might have the original.
Is there enough clothing to suggest a date when his portrait was created?
And then theirs his hair style and lack of whiskers to consider.
Thoughts on his age would be welcome too.
Look forward to hearing from you
Thank you
Canuc
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1840's-50's but more likely 50's.
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Jim1
Thank you, I suspected that time period, but a second opinion is most welcome.
Canuc
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Cleaned it a little but nothing altered, the colours are original. He looks fairly young; mid thirties maybe? regards, John.
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Thank you for the colourisation the person I'm asking for will be pleased I think
Canuc
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Thank you for your reply, but, as I said in my post "original colours"; no colour was added, John.
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Hoobaloo,
I'm not sure I understand what you're telling me.
With my colour vision deficiency I was not seeing anything more than a line drawing with a colour wash of indeterminate hue. What you achieved is colourization for me, and I liked it.
Canuc
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The original drawing is very beautiful, and most skilfully done. A fine portrait. It is a shame you don’t have the original to see the artist’s name, as that might help you with the dating.
The sitter is young, possibly 20s-30s – not easy to be more exact than that.
The strange version posted in reply #3, with intensified colours and blurred detail, in my opinion, is certainly not an enhancement of the original.
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Slight enhance
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RJ137,
Thank you
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An extremely well executed drawing, possibly done by a professional.
Do you know the identity of the sitter?
Someone has obviously taken this photo through glass, so if you can track down that person, they should be able to tell you the location of the portrait when they took the photo.
I agree that it would likely be signed and possibly dated, so well worth a try I think, even if this is only a framed copy of the original, there may be clues.
It’s a lovely image of a handsome young man. :)
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Ruskie,
It's one of those situations where the exact detail is lost in time, and nobody who knew him thought to annotate the back or attach a label to the rear.
The person who I am helping understands him to be family, believes he would be in her pedigree but not sure which iteration of grandfather he might be. I will ask her the questions you set out.
Many thanks
Happy hunting
Canuc
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I hope you can identify him.
The assumption would be that he was fairly well to do as he is dressed well and has that “air” about him. Sitting for a portrait may be something those with a bit of wealth or standing may do. Knowing occupations of males in the family might help to narrow him down somewhat.
Good luck Canuc.
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Ruskie,
I emailed the person I'm helping, she's not confident. For a start she doesn't know where there was money in her pedigree to pay an artist for their skill.
The picture was in a collection of her mother's papers, but in isolation. She's working on some thoughts.
By posting here to get an opinion of the date of the portrait and the age of the man she hopes she can identify him by elimination. I hope to visit her in a few weeks and have two heads gong on the conundrum, mine with no preconceptions. Sometimes other people's brisk walls are more interesting than your own, and it keeps your skills honed.
Thank you for your efforts, I'll post on here if we think we have him identified.
Happy hunting
Canuc
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https://alchetron.com/cdn/george-richmond-painter-e2adfee4-0649-4ffe-afc3-a478aa8d9e2-resize-750.jpeg
Is the a likeness?
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Hepburn,
I don't think so your man has a cleft chin, and I think he's a younger man at a later time due to the cravat.
Happy hunting
Canuc
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Was the picture that was in your friend’s mother’s collection the original or a copy?
In your research if none of the direct males look likely, perhaps investigate sons in law?
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It looks like a Pastel Portrait on Ingres paper. I wouldn't put his age any early than late teens, early 20s. he is very fresh faced.
I have read of people swapping trades, for example, "if you could fix my fence, I would do a portrait of your son.
I have seen portraits of people on here who ask the same question of how their relative could afford to have a portrait done.
There is also a possibly that it was done by a Family member.
Carol
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Treetotal,
"It looks like a Pastel Portrait on Ingress paper. "
Interesting observation, does the paper type suggest an amateur rather than a professional artist?
The barter idea is a logical way round the how was it paid for question.
Thank you
Canuc
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I am an amateur artist and use Ingres paper for chalk and charcoal drawings, or, oil or chalk pastel as it has a grainy surface that holds the pastels well.
It could be used by both amatuer and professionals artists.
You may want to look at early census returns for Family who may have listed themselves as "Artist" as their occupation.
In the 1850s, photography was in its infancy so portraits were the only means of creating a likeness.
Carol
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Good observation about this being pastel Carol.
I did wonder if sitting for the portrait might be a favour for an artist friend with no payment involved.
I was hoping that the original might contain a signature somewhere, perhaps even hidden by a mount or the frame. It’s worth looking at the back too just in case. :)
Professional or amateur, the artist was very competent. Sitter has a very young face but a slightly receeding hairline, not that that means he older. I agree with Carol’s estimate of early 20s.