A superb large trompe l''oeil painting of a carved stone freize of cherubs. The painting is most likely French and dates to the Nineteenth century, though it could possible be late Eighteenth century. This type of painting in tones of grey known as ''en grisaille'' was popular in France from the end of the eighteenth century and often employed to create large trompe l''oeil panels of sculptural freizes for decorative interiors. The large canvases would have been incorporated within painted wooden panelling to create the effect of a carved marble interior. The painting is in very good untouched condition for such a large canvas, there is some craqueleure of the paint and the odd blemish but nothing too distracting and the whole gives a large and dramatic decorative impact. The scene here is of cherubs gaming with coins and is a typical subject for the rococo period. The painting has been mounted in a modern bespoke frame which has been painted to match the artwork and continue the illus...