Identification Help Please

eebrunmoody · February 25th, 2010, 09:00 PM

I can upload a picture of the painting in question later, but for the time being I simply want to establish the possible existence of the artist. I *believe* the signature reads J (possibly G) Hirney (possibly Girney or Jirney) the first letter looks like a lower-case h, but swirls back and down(as one might embellish a J, G, or Y).

Any help identifying the artist, or suggestions as to what it might actually say are greatly appreciated!

-eebrown

John · February 26th, 2010, 09:28 AM

I can find 2 documented artists whose names end in "irney":

William Verplanck Birney (American painter, 1858-1909)

John Cairney (British artist, active ca. 1883-1906)

eebrunmoody · February 27th, 2010, 12:24 PM

Thanks so much for the suggestions

unfortunately I don't think either match. Birney seems closest in style, but I couldn't find the painting in an image search, and I do think the first name must start with a J. The J is the clearest part of the signature.

I am going to post a thread with some photos of the painting, though, so maybe you'll recognize it.

Thanks so much,
eebrown

eebrunmoody · February 27th, 2010, 01:11 PM

I don't think my reply posted the first time

Anyway, thank you for your help

I couldn't find the image searching under either name, although Birney is closer in the style, and upon looking at the painting again, it actually does look like it says Birney in the signature

But the first initial is definitely a J. *shrug*

Hercules Brabazon · February 27th, 2010, 06:24 PM

Here's a painting by an artist called J Birney, though I'm not sure it's the same person
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/h/ite...4?ah=525-bf80a

John · February 28th, 2010, 12:21 AM

Great find. The signatures do match (the original poster uploaded images in this thread), and in this painting the name can be clearly read as J. Birney. Conceivably the artist is some relation to William Birney, mentioned above.

eebrunmoody · February 28th, 2010, 03:10 AM

That is an awesome find! Thanks so much! The styles and signatures definitely match. And mine is framed in exactly the same manner as it shows in the backs of that painting.

I really appreciate both you guys help. *off to research!

*

Hercules Brabazon · February 28th, 2010, 08:22 AM

A simple way of finding obscure artists is just to Google signed plus the signature in question, all in inverted commas thus-"signed j birney"

Voila!

eebrunmoody · February 28th, 2010, 10:18 AM

That definitely works better. Just searching for J.Birney wasn't yielding any results that seemed connected

February 25th, 2010, 09:00 PM	#1
eebrunmoody Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 7	Identification Help Please I can upload a picture of the painting in question later, but for the time being I simply want to establish the possible existence of the artist. I believe the signature reads J (possibly G) Hirney (possibly Girney or Jirney) the first letter looks like a lower-case h, but swirls back and down(as one might embellish a J, G, or Y). Any help identifying the artist, or suggestions as to what it might actually say are greatly appreciated! -eebrown

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February 26th, 2010, 09:28 AM	#2
John John Malyon, host Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,401	I can find 2 documented artists whose names end in "irney": William Verplanck Birney (American painter, 1858-1909) John Cairney (British artist, active ca. 1883-1906)

February 27th, 2010, 12:24 PM	#3
eebrunmoody Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 7	Thanks so much for the suggestions unfortunately I don't think either match. Birney seems closest in style, but I couldn't find the painting in an image search, and I do think the first name must start with a J. The J is the clearest part of the signature. I am going to post a thread with some photos of the painting, though, so maybe you'll recognize it. Thanks so much, eebrown

February 27th, 2010, 01:11 PM	#4
eebrunmoody Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 7	I don't think my reply posted the first time Anyway, thank you for your help I couldn't find the image searching under either name, although Birney is closer in the style, and upon looking at the painting again, it actually does look like it says Birney in the signature But the first initial is definitely a J. shrug

February 27th, 2010, 06:24 PM	#5
Hercules Brabazon Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 118	Here's a painting by an artist called J Birney, though I'm not sure it's the same person http://www.liveauctioneers.com/h/ite...4?ah=525-bf80a

February 28th, 2010, 12:21 AM	#6
John John Malyon, host Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,401	Great find. The signatures do match (the original poster uploaded images in this thread), and in this painting the name can be clearly read as J. Birney. Conceivably the artist is some relation to William Birney, mentioned above.

February 28th, 2010, 03:10 AM	#7
eebrunmoody Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 7	That is an awesome find! Thanks so much! The styles and signatures definitely match. And mine is framed in exactly the same manner as it shows in the backs of that painting. I really appreciate both you guys help. off to research!

February 28th, 2010, 08:22 AM	#8
Hercules Brabazon Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 118	A simple way of finding obscure artists is just to Google signed plus the signature in question, all in inverted commas thus-"signed j birney" Voila!

February 28th, 2010, 10:18 AM	#9
eebrunmoody Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 7	That definitely works better. Just searching for J.Birney wasn't yielding any results that seemed connected