Description
This is a rich-looking 19th-century hand-painted floor screen with a portrait gallery. The materials make it 19th-century, but the subjects are dressed in 18th-century attire. We are not certain if the portrait gallery started as a screen or was later repurposed into a screen. It is made from six canvases fused, two per panel. The fact that the six canvases fit well onto the wood frame suggests they were originally meant to originate as a screen, but the premise remains undecided as the artwork is unsigned and unidentified. However, based on the style and techniques, it is our opinion that it is American rather than European.
All the subjects seem to have a familial connection and supportive roles. Three of the subjects are depicted looking directly at the artist and displaying expressions of authority. The older gentleman conveys intellect and leadership and the older woman a domiciliary expression of firmness and family matriarchy. Each portrait is encircled with a medallion of Rococo scrolls having sprays of foliage hinting they are historical figures of noble lineage. The screen is the ideal accessory for anyone fascinated by the study of portraits and images of 18th-century life.
Overall: H= 69 in. W= 72 in. D= 12 in. 50 lbs.
Each Panel: H= 69 in. W= 24 in. D= 1 in.
