Just in from France recently, this is a real beauty! Early 1800s, possibly earlier, this is a delicate sensitive oil painting of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, showing the desolate landscape of the hill Golgotha, and the stones or logs bracing the raised cross into the hole. Realistic portrait, one sees Christ suffering, head down but muscles taught. The face is just 1/2", making it similar in artistry to portrait miniatures. The painting is on canvas, but backed by wood. I did not take the backing off, but I believe that is a later applied wood panel, and that there is an older wood backing, because I can see presence of wood worm holes that have exited through the canvas, but do not appear on the current wood back, which also seems to me to be a compression panel. The older one within would be a board of natural tree growth wood. Full measurements are noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, it has a heavy large and specially crafted bronze frame rather than wood. As noted, I can see some flaws to the old painting (which may very well be 18th century, or earliest 19th century. I see wood worm holes (several) which again affirms it is painted on wood, or on canvas attached to wood. I am not positive, but I suspect some restoration there near the feet (a slightly shinier and different look to the painted surface there). Much age to this one, and lends reverence to the desolate theme as well as the advanced age of the painting. Frame is superb. Ready to hang.
