What a handsome pair, these! Two hundred years ago now they had their portraits done. Gentleman with piercing blue eyes and white hair but youthful face, and his wife in a large Lacey bonnet, adaptation from the historical fashions of Belgium, not quite as posh as Paris but big on lace. The artist has signed both paintings and dated them 1823, and notation of Bruxelles (Brussels, Belgium). Artist signature is Hermann. I have not ever done much research into this artist. Time is always limited, it seems. Interestingly, each has playing cards backing the paintings. I often find that in a gentleman's portrait but not typically backing a woman's portrait. Full measurements noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent condition on both paintings, convex cover glass, but both have a shrinkage crack to the wood frame (see images, marked with 'x'), which have been glued and clamped, but the line remains in view. Exceptional paintings, particularly the gentleman. I admit I got a good price on these owing to the cracks in frames, and I'll pass this along to our customers. For me, it's the art I'm buying and these are superb! You are buying the couple.
