1887 painting question

Hi everyone. I bought a painting two years ago from an estate sale of an ex mayor of Miami. The painting was by George Newell Bower. Not a well known artist and not particularly valuable. The painting interior matches another one of his paintings so everything appears in order. However, the canvas is mounted to a board. The board, after Id'ing the name on the back, wasn't produced until a few years after the artist died. The painting is dated 1887 I think.

My question is, was it common to mount a canvas after painting to a wall board of some sort? Or is someone playing an elaborate trick for no reason, as I said, the painting is not valuable.

Thanks for everyone's opinion...

 

Here's a photo of the painting. You can compare it with the Bower work "The Nantucket Journal" as the interior doors are the same.

 

It wasnt uncommon for restorers to do that,I think to stabilize the work. Charming painting.

 

Thank you. I took the frame off because it was cheap and I found the wall board company name that was after 1910 I believe. So it threw some doubt on the painting but the style does match the artist's other work. They were painted two years apart. But I know nothing of art or canvas or anything... so thanks!

 

Here's a copy of the Nantucket journal painting. Note the door similarities...

 

Hi 7539, yes that is very common. It is a great shame that most glues are not removable like today's quality conservation products, which are generally reversible. I am facing the same issue with a small 1880 French Impressionist painting I bought being glued to board and then varnished. Let us know if you find a solution?

 

I'm just glad to know it's a real painting. I was beginning to wonder but it didn't add up.
I'm probably not going to do anything with it. The Crystal Bridges Museum of American art is in my town. I guess I could ask one of their conservators...

 

I think it would be worth asking. Even if they can't help now or it just isn't possible to do anything, the contact might be of great value for some future project. I also love the story that frames and the backs of paintings tell. I see paintings framed in New York being sold in Sydney and many from framers in the UK. How did they get to Australia and when? A painting I recently bought had a 1948 French poster inside and another one had a rough painting sketch hidden as well. All very exciting and makes this "obsession/past time/hobby?" worth while. Also, welcome to the forum.

 

Thanks! And it is interesting

 

@7539, Hi and WELCOME!! If you look at the area that I've circled in red, you'll see some distortion towards the right.....maybe someone was trying to stabilize a loose canvas by attaching it to a piece of board/wood? And as previously mentioned, it was not uncommon to do that.

 

I see that now. I'll have to take a closer look... thanks!