Unknown Painting...

We have this painting in our Livingroom and can't figure out who its by...

 

I'm guessing it's an etching of the Chiogiotti (Venetian) Lagoon. Is there pencil writing under the picture? What is that little smudge below the picture and towards the left? Can you get close ups of any writing? A good close up of a corner of the image? Maybe a close-up or two of some details (as tight and as clear as possible)?

 

The little smudge to the left is a boat... here is a picture of the signature... is there anything you can tell me about the frame?

 

Looks like E C Jost for the signature.

 

Are they anyone important?

 

The same as your image is the first one that showed up when Googling his name. It's part of a Liveauctioneers' record.

https://www.google.com/search?q=ec+...&ei=_2rZVKLoPNjtoATPv4CoDA&ved=0CDcQ7Ak&dpr=1

 

Thank you...

 

It says 19th century, is there anyway I can find out if its authentic...?

 

You'd have to show it to someone who knows prints. I don't see any immediate reason to doubt its authenticity.

 

Ok thank you...

 

Whoever this artist was, he doesn't appear to be very prolific, given the scarcity of online images and complete absence of biographical information. Google kept insisting that I must want E C Rost (an American artist who seemed to work in a similar style but whose signature is completely different.)

Couple things to add - that little boat sketch in the margin is called a remarque. I find them delightful additions to the "main event."

Second thing - that matte is not acid-free (see where it has turned dark brown at the cut edges?) If you like the picture and want to keep it in its best condition, you should have that replaced. The acid in the matte will negatively affect the paper on which the etching was printed over time.

 

Ok! Thank you...

 

You're very welcome Daniel.

And welcome to Antiquers.com!

 

The acid in the matte will negatively affect the paper on which the etching was printed over time.

I think it already has.....but the print...if valuable or loved ...can be de- acidified.

 

Mayby it could be that "E. C. Rost in the end? When looking at his etchings, I think it is interesting that he uses the same format as yours very often and also has many times small depictions of things outside the borders of the etching, like the boat in your one. Also his style looks really close to your artist's style. So I think it could be the same person...
Mat

 

The last name in the signature does not look like Rost. I've never seen a capital R formed that way. Did you see any of Rost's works that show a signature?

 

I saw a closeup of Rost's signature in my image search last night, Fig. It was done in the plate and was more block letters than script. I didn't see one pencil-signed so a handwriting comparison was not possible.

 

Ok. Found a liveauctioneers record with bio info and a closer view of a pencil signature (although it was partially obscured by the frame.) A much looser hand than we see on Daniel's piece. Now we know that artist's signatures often change over time but an obvious R versus an obvious J doesn't seem likely. The bio claimed that the Library of Congress has something like 80 of Rost's works in their collection. A search there might help.

 

One other thing. Last night when searching Jost I saw some auction records and etching titles in German.

 

You are correct. The OP's piece (a Remarque etching) is signed 'E.C. Rost' for American artist: 'Ernest Christian Rost (1866 - 1940)'.