unknown artist skaters painting

gloryjune · July 21st, 2010, 12:00 PM

My husband inherited a painting from his father. It was painted on Gray Board (25X18)with a label on the back that says FW Devoe Company, New York. There is a triangle trademark "1852".
His father was living in Dallas, TX in the early 1920's and a man gave him the painting as payment for delivering the newspaper. We have not cleaned the painting. It is in pretty good condition. We cannot find a signature on it. I have seen similar paintings of ice skating scenes but the clothing on these figures look Russian or Dutch. We took it to a local antique person, but they did not know much about art. Can anyone give me a clue as to how to identify it? Thanks!

thatcomedian · July 21st, 2010, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gloryjune

My husband inherited a painting from his father. It was painted on Gray Board (25X18)with a label on the back that says FW Devoe Company, New York. There is a triangle trademark "1852".
His father was living in Dallas, TX in the early 1920's and a man gave him the painting as payment for delivering the newspaper. We have not cleaned the painting. It is in pretty good condition. We cannot find a signature on it. I have seen similar paintings of ice skating scenes but the clothing on these figures look Russian or Dutch. We took it to a local antique person, but they did not know much about art. Can anyone give me a clue as to how to identify it? Thanks!

Isn't that a signature at the very bottom-right, just to the right of the log.

gloryjune · July 21st, 2010, 11:00 PM

To us, it looks like marks that resemble grass. Can you think of an artist that signed in that manner? Where can I find signatures on the internet to compare with it? Thanks for responding!

thatcomedian · July 22nd, 2010, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gloryjune

To us, it looks like marks that resemble grass. Can you think of an artist that signed in that manner? Where can I find signatures on the internet to compare with it? Thanks for responding!

Maybe I'm wrong. It looks like a C then a couple of letter then th. Can you take a closeup, non blurry photo of that.

gloryjune · July 22nd, 2010, 11:29 AM

Here is a closeup. We took it out of the frame. YOu can see where it has been rubbed from improper framing.

gloryjune · July 22nd, 2010, 11:31 AM

This is the label on the back. There is no writing anywhere on the back. It is a gray board.
Thank you so much for replying!

August 21st, 2010, 10:23 PM

I can tell you this much: The label on the back dates the painting to between about 1852 and 1869. After that, the Label would have read New York and Chicago.
Look carefully on the STRETCHER BARS and on the back of the board for any faint pencil marks that may indicate a signature OR monogram. Sometimes they're so faint there nearly undetectable.

If you find something - go to your local library and look for the Falk, Castagno or any other reference books that have Artists Signatures & Monograms.

Good luck.

August 21st, 2010, 10:23 PM	#7
Henparty Posts: n/a	Devoe Label I can tell you this much: The label on the back dates the painting to between about 1852 and 1869. After that, the Label would have read New York and Chicago. Look carefully on the STRETCHER BARS and on the back of the board for any faint pencil marks that may indicate a signature OR monogram. Sometimes they're so faint there nearly undetectable. If you find something - go to your local library and look for the Falk, Castagno or any other reference books that have Artists Signatures & Monograms. Good luck.

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July 21st, 2010, 11:00 PM	#3
gloryjune Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 4	To us, it looks like marks that resemble grass. Can you think of an artist that signed in that manner? Where can I find signatures on the internet to compare with it? Thanks for responding!