RARE MID-19TH CENTURY AME RI CAN FOLK ART ANTIQUE OIL ON CANVAS PORTRAIT OF CALF W/COLLAR, CANVAS PREVIOUSLY REMOVED FROM. OLD STRETCHER & LAID DOWN IN LATER. DECORATED, SCALLOPED WOOD FRAME. Mid-19th c American folk art animal painting. Frame: 17 ¾” Height x 15 ¾” Width. Image: 12 ¾” Height x 10 ¾” Width. Offered for your careful review and consideration is this recently discovered and absolutely fantastic and need I say infinitely charming, mid-19th century American folk art antique oil on canvas painting of a baby calf, complete with collar and hidden cow bell. As far as 19th century cow paintings go, this is not simply your run-of-the-mill painting of a prize-winning bovine but an extremely sensitive, personal and familiar rendition and portrayal of literally the newest member of the family. The baby calf is painted with the same kind of tenderness, pride and familiar affection, as would be painted a child. The calf is rendered exquisitely, with a three-quarter view of the animal’s head. The hair of the calf is particularly well-executed and the color variations of the fur is simply exceptional, with great detail paid to the fluctuations of color and texture. The animal’s eyes are also sympathetic and imbued with a specific personality, which lends the viewer to become more emotionally involved and attached to the subject matter, in this case a baby cow, much as they would, viewing the affectionate oil portrait of a families’ newest born child. The atmosphere is a wonderful soft light teal green, with complex episodes of the most subtle color fluctuations, making the atmosphere not a mere afterthought but also a demonstration of the skill and experience of the itinerant artist. This is a mid-19th century American folk art painting of a calf and cows were immensely important to the survival and livelihood of many rural 19th century American families, in what was previously a mostly agrarian, rural society. Therefore, the birth of a baby calf would have meant the continued chance of survival, increased fortunes and the personal wealth of a family, since from the cow was gleaned, milk, cream, butter and other by-products. This is not just a painting of a baby cow but of the newest and most recently celebrated member of an early New England family. It pre-dates the US Civil War by possibly nearly 10-15 years and was realized at a time of peace and when most Americans were perpetually busy working and toiling the land, struggling to survive. The birth of a calf was a memorable and celebrated event. This is perhaps why its owners paid an itinerant American artist to paint it. Extraordinary and absolutely gorgeous. I’ve been in the antique’s business for over 35 years and it’s not often you come across and witness a painting of an animal done with the kind of affection, sensitivity and tenderness on display here. It’s unsigned but regardless of not knowing who is responsible for its realization, doesn’t diminish it one iota in importance. Brimming with personality, charm and visual delight. This mid-19th century American folk art painting of a calf is a winner. 170 years old and counting. There are some minor scuffs, slight abrasions and some flecks of paint loss along the right and left margins of the canvas, where it used to bend and fold over the wooden stretcher it was once mounted on. It appears to have been removed from this original preparation and now laid down flat and upon a supporting backing board. It has also since been reframed in a much later decorative rustic wooden frame and now has a brown paper dust cover on the verso. The canvas may have also been sprayed with a sealant or Damar spray varnish to’hold’ the weakened areas of the paint, that had let go from the surface of the canvas. All-in-all, the painting has withstood the test of time rather admirably and is visually unobstructed. It has great, undiminished color and is a simply delightful, affectionate portrait of what’s clearly a baby calf, complete with collar and most likely a bell hidden underneath. This is really a superb mid-19th century American folk art painting of not just a bovine but of what amounts to be the newest member of the family, a baby calf and ostensibly, the families’ cherished new pet. Good to Very Good overall antique condition. Please review all photos carefully, as well as the condition report. The item “RARE MID-19TH C AMERICAN FOLK ART ANTIQUE O/C PORTRAIT OF CALF, LAID DOWN/FRAMED” is in sale since Thursday, August 22, 2019. This item is in the category “Art\Paintings”. The seller is “modsanctuary” and is located in Milford, New Hampshire. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Size: Medium (up to 36in.)
- Region of Origin: US
- Artist: Unknown
- Style: Folk Art
- Listed By: Dealer or Reseller
- Quantity Type: Single-Piece Work
- Painting Surface: Canvas
- Medium: Oil
- Date of Creation: 1800-1899
- Unsigned: 19th c Americana, folk art
- Antique: 19th c American folk art painting
- Year: Circa 1850-1870
- Features: Framed
- Mid-19th century: Executed somewhere between 1850-1870
- Found in southern New Hampshire: New England
- Width (Inches): Frame:15 ¾” ” Width
- Color: Multi-Color
- Subject: Portrait
- Canvas once wrapped on wood stretcher: Canvas now laid down flat on board
- In later decorative, rustic wood frame: With brown paper dust cover on verso
- Originality: Original
- Height (Inches): Frame:17 ¾” Height
