Oil on canvas (male sitter has been lined), unsigned, presented in period walnut frames with faux bois motif and gilt liner.

SS 29.75 x 25.5 in.; DOA 40.5 x 36 in.

This striking pair of portraits depicts a wealthy husband and wife in an almost modern photo-realistic manner. The artist has chosen to dramatically light the sitter's face, enhancing their individuality within a typical mid-19th century portrait setting. Each sitter is depicted half-length, seated in a high style Rococo revival armchair. The richness of their surroundings include a mountains vista beyond and a deep burgundy drapery to the right. Each is attired in somber, yet costly, black attire with crisply starched white shirting or lace trim. Interestingly, the man is depicted without any attributes of power, but the woman displays a book proudly in her proper right hand.

Stable craquelure; minor scattered retouch visible under UV light (including an "L" shaped retouch between female sitter's nose and eye); light surface grime; scattered paint flaking to lower edge of female sitter.

$500 - 1,000