Rare Unknown Painting Discovered at Estate Sale

March 17th, 2009, 04:20 PM

The image itself is in landscape format, about 2:1. It depicts a melancholy scene of an old, dim, victorian-style salon room. There is a group of men and women, some seated and some standing, along a wall to the left. Across the room from this seated audience, a person of whom their back is all we can see, plays an early upright piano of possibly english lineage. Directly behind this pianist stand a person playing a violin, his face darkened from view. There is a doorway in the wall just to the left of the piano, next to which a very white ghostly face hangs seemingly in mid-air. The image of this is quite haunting, and appears to be the focal point of the work, although not overpowering in size. One of the men in the audience appears to be crying, and has his head buried in his hands. A young woman in the Gibson-Girl style looks up, her expression gives a sense of yearning.

The feeling of the entire art work is very somber and converys a genuine sense of loss. The idea of the ghostly face in the room- if indeed that is what it is- lends a distinct air of the spirit world. I have never been able to identify this piece of art and so I am hoping someone here will know what it is. The signature on the piece is clear, but could be interpreted in a couple ways. to me it reads "I. Boles" but it could be "I Bales". Furthermore, there is the start of a letter AFTER this signature, which shows that this lithograph was unfortunately trimmed to fit into the frame. the character could be an "R" or an "N" or other, it is very indistinct and not enough of it remains to make a true assessment. When I removed it from the frame to try to see further markings, the letters "PARM" were under the signature, which were obscured by the frame previously. This might be the Lithographer's mark, as it was done stylized, with the letter tops of "PARM" forming a convex arch.

I have found no information on it on the internet whatsoever, after searching all varieties and strings of terms on Google over many years. This is the first time I have posted about it publicly. I'll describe it as best I can, and will also email photographs of it to anyone that wishes to see it.

The image itself is in landscape format, about 2:1. It depicts a melancholy scene of an old, dim, victorian-style salon room. There is a group of men and women, some seated and some standing, along a wall to the left. Across the room from this seated audience, a person of whom their back is all we can see, plays an early upright piano of possibly english lineage. Directly behind this pianist stand a person playing a violin, his face darkened from view. There is a doorway in the wall just to the left of the piano, next to which a very white ghostly face hangs seemingly in mid-air. The image of this is quite haunting, and appears to be the focal point of the work, although not overpowering in size. One of the men in the audience appears to be crying, and has his head buried in his hands. A young woman in the Gibson-Girl style looks up, her expression gives a sense of yearning.

The feeling of the entire art work is very somber and converys a genuine sense of loss. The idea of the ghostly face in the room- if indeed that is what it is- lends a distinct air of the spirit world. I have never been able to identify this piece of art and so I am hoping someone here will know what it is. The signature on the piece is clear, but could be interpreted in a couple ways. to me it reads "I. Boles" but it could be "I Bales". Furthermore, there is the start of a letter AFTER this signature, which shows that this lithograph was unfortunately trimmed to fit into the frame. the character could be an "R" or an "N" or other, it is very indistinct and not enough of it remains to make a true assessment. When I removed it from the frame to try to see further markings, the letters "PARM" were under the signature, which were obscured by the frame previously. This might be the Lithographer's mark, as it was done stylized, with the letter tops of "PARM" forming a convex arch.

About 20 years ago I saw another print just like this one, albeit it smaller in size. This leads me to think it was a rather popular image at some time. Any help would be appreciated identifying the artist, the year it was produced, the country, and of course the meaning behind it. It seems to date from late 19th century or early 20th. It appears to be a lithograph of a pencil drawing. Does anyone here know what it is?

TyroneShoelaces · August 27th, 2009, 07:43 PM

Actually my parents do. Have you found out anything regarding the picture? In my parents picture, the area around the signature is too dark to make out all the letters, there's an "e" and "s" for sure. I have been researching the picture and found something that may be interesting. Below is an excerpt from an article on Coles Phillips, http://www.americanartarchives.com/phillips,c.htm that has the following written in it:

The idea had first occurred to him during his ad agency days, when he was visiting a friend who was wearing a tuxedo and playing a violin in a very dimly lit room. Phillips noticed that even though he could see little of the man, his friend's complete figure was suggested by just the highlights on the violin, the shine on his shoes, and the small bits of white shirt that were visible.

The thing is, his stuff online is pretty different from the painting my parents have. Still, there is the Gibson girl style woman, and the Coles/Boles similarity.

saintmarc · August 30th, 2009, 12:48 AM

May I suggest that a bad image is often more useful than long talks?

October 12th, 2009, 01:32 AM

hello,
i also have a picture that is very much as you described. i don't seem to be able to find any names or initials. although under the smokers feet there seem to be some lettering on the floor which i can't make out. just obtained the picture and haven't had time to thoroughly study it. just thought maybe you hadn't noticed and it may mean something.

dnsmith · January 2nd, 2010, 09:37 PM

We have the exact same picture. I'm just starting to look into it. If I find anything out I'll let you know. Please do the same if you have since found more info.
I've attached a jpeg of ours for anyone that may be interested or have more info.
Thanks

March 17th, 2009, 04:20 PM	#1
TheArtstFrmrlyKnwnasPrntz Posts: n/a	Rare Unknown Painting Discovered at Estate Sale The image itself is in landscape format, about 2:1. It depicts a melancholy scene of an old, dim, victorian-style salon room. There is a group of men and women, some seated and some standing, along a wall to the left. Across the room from this seated audience, a person of whom their back is all we can see, plays an early upright piano of possibly english lineage. Directly behind this pianist stand a person playing a violin, his face darkened from view. There is a doorway in the wall just to the left of the piano, next to which a very white ghostly face hangs seemingly in mid-air. The image of this is quite haunting, and appears to be the focal point of the work, although not overpowering in size. One of the men in the audience appears to be crying, and has his head buried in his hands. A young woman in the Gibson-Girl style looks up, her expression gives a sense of yearning. The feeling of the entire art work is very somber and converys a genuine sense of loss. The idea of the ghostly face in the room- if indeed that is what it is- lends a distinct air of the spirit world. I have never been able to identify this piece of art and so I am hoping someone here will know what it is. The signature on the piece is clear, but could be interpreted in a couple ways. to me it reads "I. Boles" but it could be "I Bales". Furthermore, there is the start of a letter AFTER this signature, which shows that this lithograph was unfortunately trimmed to fit into the frame. the character could be an "R" or an "N" or other, it is very indistinct and not enough of it remains to make a true assessment. When I removed it from the frame to try to see further markings, the letters "PARM" were under the signature, which were obscured by the frame previously. This might be the Lithographer's mark, as it was done stylized, with the letter tops of "PARM" forming a convex arch. I have found no information on it on the internet whatsoever, after searching all varieties and strings of terms on Google over many years. This is the first time I have posted about it publicly. I'll describe it as best I can, and will also email photographs of it to anyone that wishes to see it. The image itself is in landscape format, about 2:1. It depicts a melancholy scene of an old, dim, victorian-style salon room. There is a group of men and women, some seated and some standing, along a wall to the left. Across the room from this seated audience, a person of whom their back is all we can see, plays an early upright piano of possibly english lineage. Directly behind this pianist stand a person playing a violin, his face darkened from view. There is a doorway in the wall just to the left of the piano, next to which a very white ghostly face hangs seemingly in mid-air. The image of this is quite haunting, and appears to be the focal point of the work, although not overpowering in size. One of the men in the audience appears to be crying, and has his head buried in his hands. A young woman in the Gibson-Girl style looks up, her expression gives a sense of yearning. The feeling of the entire art work is very somber and converys a genuine sense of loss. The idea of the ghostly face in the room- if indeed that is what it is- lends a distinct air of the spirit world. I have never been able to identify this piece of art and so I am hoping someone here will know what it is. The signature on the piece is clear, but could be interpreted in a couple ways. to me it reads "I. Boles" but it could be "I Bales". Furthermore, there is the start of a letter AFTER this signature, which shows that this lithograph was unfortunately trimmed to fit into the frame. the character could be an "R" or an "N" or other, it is very indistinct and not enough of it remains to make a true assessment. When I removed it from the frame to try to see further markings, the letters "PARM" were under the signature, which were obscured by the frame previously. This might be the Lithographer's mark, as it was done stylized, with the letter tops of "PARM" forming a convex arch. About 20 years ago I saw another print just like this one, albeit it smaller in size. This leads me to think it was a rather popular image at some time. Any help would be appreciated identifying the artist, the year it was produced, the country, and of course the meaning behind it. It seems to date from late 19th century or early 20th. It appears to be a lithograph of a pencil drawing. Does anyone here know what it is?

August 27th, 2009, 07:43 PM	#2
TyroneShoelaces Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1	Please send a photo, I think I have the same picture Actually my parents do. Have you found out anything regarding the picture? In my parents picture, the area around the signature is too dark to make out all the letters, there's an "e" and "s" for sure. I have been researching the picture and found something that may be interesting. Below is an excerpt from an article on Coles Phillips, http://www.americanartarchives.com/phillips,c.htm that has the following written in it: The idea had first occurred to him during his ad agency days, when he was visiting a friend who was wearing a tuxedo and playing a violin in a very dimly lit room. Phillips noticed that even though he could see little of the man, his friend's complete figure was suggested by just the highlights on the violin, the shine on his shoes, and the small bits of white shirt that were visible. The thing is, his stuff online is pretty different from the painting my parents have. Still, there is the Gibson girl style woman, and the Coles/Boles similarity.

October 12th, 2009, 01:32 AM	#4
Unregistere Posts: n/a	rare unknown picture hello, i also have a picture that is very much as you described. i don't seem to be able to find any names or initials. although under the smokers feet there seem to be some lettering on the floor which i can't make out. just obtained the picture and haven't had time to thoroughly study it. just thought maybe you hadn't noticed and it may mean something.

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August 30th, 2009, 12:48 AM	#3
saintmarc Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 345	May I suggest that a bad image is often more useful than long talks?