Portrait by unknown artist

Picked this up today. It's an original and think it might be gouache. Sadly I cant find a signature on it. I have a feeling there was a label with more information on the back. You can see the outline of where it was. I have removed the mount which is stuck on with sticky stuff. Blurgh! The paper that it is on is also stuck onto the backing card with glue about an inch wide around the edge. Not much chance of removing this to look for clues on the back, without destruction. The artist has captured the facial features really well.

 

the eye on the right side is a little too wide from the nose....and the bottom hand is off...

but it is a nice expressive work !

 

Yes indeed. I noticed the eye but wondered if it was just me or if anyone else would notice. The subject could actually look like that but I doubt it. :0)

 

Still an' all... sweet-faced ol' codger nonetheless, eh?

 

Looks very respectable. Do you think thats a bit of snuff in the pouch?

 

It makes me wonder if the sitter wasn't one of those large 19th century B&W photos.