Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 17th Century.
It is housed in a 17th century carved and giltwood frame and is in wonderful original condition.
We are not sure whether there is a specific subject. It is certainly very similar to both stumpwork pictures and bed valances of the period where fruits, flowers, animals and insects, snakes etc all feature in random arrangements. There is often a grand building in the background with roofs that at first glance look oriental but are actually Elizabethan (see for example Tixall Gatehouse).
The central figures are usually identified as portraits of Charles II and his Queen, but there is no evidence of that here. Perhaps just a chivalrous gesture of a gentleman offering to put his sword at his lady's service? Courtly love does appear in needle-works of this period.
Most curious is the mysterious figure in the foreground, fashionably dressed, hatted and bearded, he seems to be carrying a receptacle of some type .. a bucket?
This is truly a thought provoking item .. enigmatic, rare, naively beautiful and thoroughly redolent of its period.
When purchased the painting was covered with a thick layer of old discoloured varnish and dirt. Image 6 shows the painting part way through cleaning. It took an skilled conservator four days to carefully remove the layers of dirt from the fragile gold leaf.
Interestingly, the back of the painting is gilded leather also.
SIZE: 25 x 29 inches framed.
PROVENANCE: The private collection of a North Country dealer.
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 17th Century.
Roy and nadine precious: specialists in portraiture from the 16th to the 20th century. Established in 1972.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art Profile Page
Rare 17th Century Painting on Gilded Leather.
