Author Topic: Handwriting on the back of a picture frame  (Read 700 times)

Offline sheeponahill

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Handwriting on the back of a picture frame
« on: Saturday 08 June 24 12:09 BST (UK) »
I am trying to confirm what this writing says. It is from the back of an 1830s picture frame which contained a painting by the man who wrote this text. I think the last two words are "your father", but the rest is less clear. The top left double swirls might be an H? The word middle right looks like "Miss". Many thanks.

Offline sheeponahill

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Re: Handwriting on the back of a picture frame
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 08 June 24 13:23 BST (UK) »
I've made some progress I think although there may be mistakes of course. What do you think please?

Offline sheeponahill

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Re: Handwriting on the back of a picture frame
« Reply #2 on: Monday 10 June 24 09:55 BST (UK) »
My latest thought is that the last three lines might be -
do not let this
be broken
your father

Offline arthurk

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Re: Handwriting on the back of a picture frame
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 15 June 24 11:00 BST (UK) »
I'm a bit surprised that you haven't had any responses on this. For what it's worth, I think you may be right with your suggestion in reply#2, but the rest needs a bit more thought.

Hopefully now I've posted, this will go to the top of recent posts and get some more attention.


Offline sheeponahill

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Re: Handwriting on the back of a picture frame
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 15 June 24 16:40 BST (UK) »
Many thanks arthurk. I'm still very keen to figure it out.
I am fairly settled on the bottom three lines being -
  do not let this / be broken / your father

The part I'm struggling with is the first two lines:
Top line, I think the top right word is "Gibson". What might the top left flourish be? One letter or two? An "H" or an "S" maybe, or an "Fl"?
Second line, I can see so much of it, I'm surprised I can't figure it out. There is a middle "sp" which might be an old "ss".
(Obviously the following mark-ups assume that I'm seeing the right letters) 




Offline arthurk

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Re: Handwriting on the back of a picture frame
« Reply #5 on: Sunday 23 June 24 14:09 BST (UK) »
I'm still not getting very far with this. One of the things that's puzzling me is that the second line isn't straight - or maybe there was an imperfection in the surface so he had to write round it. My best guess for the second line is 'inspector'.

You might be right with Gibson - I can't think of anything better. And I wonder if the first part of the first line is a forename - possibly Frederick (with 'F' represented by 'ff' as used to be the norm). I also considered Isaiah (with long 's'), but I think there are too many letters for that. Or if it begins with 'H', Hezekiah - but that seems even less likely to me.

Do you know anything about the picture's origins, particularly location? And do you think the picture itself might shed any light on the inscription?

(I'm still hoping that someone else might offer an opinion...)

Offline sheeponahill

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Re: Handwriting on the back of a picture frame
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 23 June 24 20:22 BST (UK) »
Hello again and thanks. I'm attaching a photo of the picture itself. It looks like it is probably about 1820 (at a guess?) and it was from a Cumbrian auction house. I have assumed that it is a picture the artist's daughter ("your father"). It is possible that it might be the artist's son or daughter's friend, I suppose.
Regarding the "ff", it is possible that I am mistaken in thinking the two join up as one. It might perhaps be an "fl" but I don't think so. ff=F feels like a good assumption.
The writing does head upwards, perhaps to avoid a bump in the card. There certainly is a bump.
I think we're a letter short for "inspector" - there is either an "e" or a "c" but not both I think.
Best wishes.

Offline arthurk

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Re: Handwriting on the back of a picture frame
« Reply #7 on: Sunday 23 June 24 20:37 BST (UK) »
To be honest I couldn't really think how 'inspector' might be relevant.

But now I've seen the picture, I wonder if the first word/name might be Hannah. And might the second line be where she lived?

Others are far better than I am at dating costumes, but is there anything other than the image itself which leads you to around 1820?

(I'm about to close down now, so no more from me for tonight.)

Offline sheeponahill

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Re: Handwriting on the back of a picture frame
« Reply #8 on: Sunday 23 June 24 22:53 BST (UK) »
“Hannah” is interesting. It fits very well I think. Hannah Gibson.
The 1820 guess is simply based on the style of picture. I’ve seen others with a book held similarly from that period. I should probably have said 1800-1850.