A fabulous small painting, signed by artist, and housed in the original 19th century frame of wood, this one depicts the Greek Goddess Demeter (harvest Goddess, promoter of bounty) being led by Rhea (the Greek mother of gods, sign of fertility). It is a "prayer" painting of sorts, and asks for much fertile crops, bountiful harvest. The painting is wonderful - a gem you might want for your Doll House display for Bru and other antique dolls. We often sell this type of miniature painting to adorn the walls of doll displays and this one would be particularly lovely. Not really considered a "naughty" even though Demeter's breast is bared, since the meaning of this painting is very specific, and the bared breast is one of her identifying attributes in depictions of this Goddess. Our enlarged photos do not do it justice, and it does show much nicer in person. This owing to a bit of "blow-out" of detail that is caused by the lighting and digital camera's reaction to it. I did not take the painting out of frame, but it looks to me to be painted on card or panel, rather than the usual material used for such miniatures. The painting is fabulous, truly, and all the more so for it's story. Painting is miniature, 4.5" x 3 3/8" and housed in a frame that measures 6.75" x 3.75" and .75" deep. Frame is wood.
Very good to excellent for age and type. It is in undamaged state protected under glass within a nice mid-1800s wood frame. The painting is likely a small one done after (apres) a larger work of art, as was often done for the Grand Tour tourist trade, 1700s to 1800s. I have not yet researched to find the original or its artist, but I'm sure some searching will tell us who painted the original and where it hangs. It became a popular genre, this painting of old Master paintings in miniature, and allowed Grand Tour travelers a way to take home mementos of their travels to the great museums springing up to their pleasure.
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