Monogram - Boston Artist from 1877 ... but who?

Young Boy in Fez - oil on board, 13 ½” x 10 ½” purchased on eBay with no further info.

I have searched many times over the past 12 years to uncover this monogram with no success. I even contacted Colleene Fesko (Antiques Road Show) and she did not recognize it. Maybe someone here might have a suggestion for further research. This piece appears to have been exhibited in the gallery of Doll & Richards who occupied 2 Park Street, Boston as the partial label on the back reads. In pencil is “No. 6” & “accepted.” Some faint chalk markings read “X 25” and a symbol.

The exhibit may have been in 1878 but I can find no records of it on the internet. Monogram appears to be three initials as I believe there are two periods. Initials could be any combination of many possible letters. If anyone has seen this monogram before I would appreciate the lead. Thanks.

 

Nice painting.

Now's a great time to contact various Boston area museums. You might catch a curator with a spare minute to be of help.

James.

 

maybe the center line is the m

 

I see ... S ... M ... J

 

thanks to all for the suggestions. I did contact the Smithsonian but got no response. I may try again. I believe I read somewhere that the exhibition records for D&R were lost for years prior to 1882. As for initials, I agree with Roaring20s ... S M J account for all the lines if you accept the flourish at the top of the “M”. A few of the “J” in the Monogram site come close. And thanks for the auction record ... the seller lost a little on it . This is another one that may never be solved.

 

How frustrating. Someone must know. I assume you've contacted some of the Boston fine arts museums? How 'bout someone who specializes in the Boston School? A bit before its time but a scholar would know influences.

Debora

 

It is a very nice painting and I hope you can discover the artist. I would like to throw out another possibility for the initials, because I saw (in whatever order) S..V..O. Because the S is blocky and not rounded, I thought that could be a blocky O in the monogram.

 

Ummmm...I just saw the reference to the central vertical line, which changes my suggestion now, so I guess I agree with S...T...M.

 

If we remove the straight line in the middle I think we can plainly see an “S” & “M”. So the middle line is the most questionable. What I once thought was a period may certainly be the bottom of a “J” ... thus only one period is present. It could also be an “I” or possibly a “T” (I think that’s a stretch). I think most likely we have a combination of S, J, & M. But still no name. Thanks for all suggestions.

 

I really haven’t contacted any Boston museums. I never considered that they might research it for me. I’ll do some research into that. Thanks.

 

I wouldn't expect them to do research for you but... Someone with expertise in the late Victorian art scene in Boston may well recognize the monogram without difficulty. You should look for a curator or art professor, perhaps someone who has written on the subject.

Debora

 

This may not be relevant to the artist but I googled the address on the back of the painting and thought the results were interesting! https://collections.countway.harvard.edu/onview/exhibits/show/family-practice/item/12787

 

1878 was the year Doll & Richards moved to their location at 2 Park Street. There are some articles from that time that mention the doings of Boston artists. One of them was James Madison Stone. That could fit your mystery monogram.

 

That's a very good lead.

Debora

 

Stone's signature is all over the place which is not necessarily a bad thing. He was an instructor at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. That might be the place to ask.

https://smfa.tufts.edu/events-exhibitions/galleries

Debora

 

The one work of his i looked at was close enough in style that it's worth looking into

 

I thought so too.

Debora