Three girls with donkeys oil painting
This is a 10.75" by 13.75" oil painting of three girls and two donkeys. It is framed in a 17" by 20.5" ornate gold frame. The back of the painting is wood that has "Villar" Paris stamped on the back. It may be "Millar". I inherited this from a great aunt who passed away several years ago and it's sat in the back of a closet. I believe that someone in her parents generation may have brought it over from Europe.
It belonged to a great aunt (actually my grandmother's first cousin) and I inherited it from her. Family legend says that someone in her parents generation brought it over from England/Europe. I've had it for close to ten years and it's been in my closet.
Inherited
Yes
Dear Hannah,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry. So that I may best assist you, can you please upload anothe picture of the small label on the reverse of your painting? Could also confirm that there is no signature anywhere?
Thank you,
Karine
Thank you for getting back to me so quickly.
Unfortunately, I am not able to read the signature, so I will have to send you an estimate based on a work executed by an unknown artist.
Before I do that, if you have any suggestions regarding the signature, let me know as it may really help.
Best regards,
Karine
I do not have any other suggestions. Thank you for your help.
Hannah
Dear Hannah,
Sorry for having taken so long to reply to your last message.
I am pleased to say that I have been able to identify the artist who executed your paining.
Your delightful oil painting of three young children with donkeys is a 19th-century work by the French artist called François Lanfant de Metz (1814-1892). It is signed bottom right, and the dimensions are 13.75 x 10.7 inches. It is housed in an original carved gilt frame, and the condition looks good overall. On the reverse of your work can be found a stamp ‘Muller Paris’ which indicates that it is a French canvas which was provided by ‘Muller’ who was an art supplier and colorman in Paris during that time.
François Lanfant de Metz is, without doubt, one of the best childhood themed French artists of the 19th century. He always signed his family name with the addition of ’de Metz’, which is the nearest city in France he was the closest to. His work is kept today in several French museums and is offered mainly in France and also in America.
The estimate provided is based on comparables offered and sold at auction in the last five years. The subject work’s size, the composition, condition (based on photographs provided), as well as the artists’ current auction market were taken into consideration when determining the estimate. In many cases, pricing for similar items available on the primary (retail) market vary and are often higher than secondary (auction) market examples.
Best regards,
Karine
Dear Karine,
You are wonderful! Thank you so much for this information!! I'm so happy to know the artist and just a little more about the painting. This has been a great process--thank you again!
Hannah
You are welcome!
Best regards,
Karine
There is a signature underneath the girls foot on the right. I uploaded another picture of it. I also uploaded a picture of the label on the back of the painting, it really has nothing distinguishable on it.