Male Silhouette Portrait Painting

This male silhouette portrait painting for sale is dated 1881 on the reverse frame and of the 19th century. Decorated in a lovely hand made black painted wooden frame, decorated with a gilt decorated brass acorn and leaf mounting loop and a beveled circular, oval gilt decorated brass mounting ring. A true addition to the collection of 19th-century folk art, primitives, and farmhouse or colonial decor, this small framed watercolor painting presents a bold contrast of charcoal black, gold, and soft ivory white colors.

Possibly French in origin, a presentation with familiar aspects to the works of Auguste Edouart (1789-1861), Joseph Wright (1756 – 1793), and Ezra Wood, known as the Puffy Sleeve Artist and active between in the early 1830s. This watercolor painting on oval cut paper displays a younger gentleman with longer ruffled hair dressed in formal attire with gold painted highlights and a white, unpainted ruffled shirt with affable charm. A perfect addition to one’s wall decor in the early American, colonial interior, or farmhouse decor style, or for collectors of silhouette paintings or early American folk art.

The frame measures 4.9 inches in height by 4 inches in width. The oval silhouette measures 2.75 inches in height.

The frame displays elements of minor repair with crazing and general wear to the frame. The oval painting on paper with ripples to the paper and toning. The reverse with mounting residue and wear consistent with the age of the object. The frame shape irregular. The gilt decorated brass oval frame mounting ring displays oxidation and tarnish—the glass insert with abrasions to the glass surface.