Doe and Hope

Description

In entirely original condition, the provincial oil on canvas painting of a youth with a stallion and hunting dog amidst classic rural French countryside walking upon a track by a river side, painted in the naïve style by a journeying Englishman, and housed in its original time-worn frame, signed and dated 1880 M.Gilbert to the lower right, the composition painted by a journeying Englishman in France.

The picture is in entirely untouched condition with no restoration and showing an even amount of craquelure to its surface. There are a few very minor areas of flaked loss and it remains un-cleaned by us. The frame is also entirely original. The canvas is stamped verso ‘8 Valle’ probably for Vallé & Bourniche who were continental suppliers used by British-based artists when abroad.

The naïve depiction of the two animals and the young gentleman perfectly conjures up the scene of rural France. The year of 1880 in France saw the discovery of piezoelectricity by Pierre Curie and Jacques Curie, France annexing Tahiti and the Musée Carnavalet opening to the public as a museum of Paris history.

Just ever so deliciously original.