Featured Place de la Bastille, oil painting mystery signature

Discussion in 'Art' started by blooey, Oct 10, 2019.

  1. blooey

    blooey Well-Known Member

    Had this for years, oil sketch on mahogany panel, in my opinion 1890-1900 or so. Never been able to figure out who painted it ...

    Signature, (first letter) slightly obliterated by a scuff, looks as if it happened while the paint was wet, probably just in handling it. Plainly signed but illegible .. (to me!)

    Any and all input gratefully received!!

    whole1.jpg

    det1.jpg

    sigenh.jpg
     
  2. Jivvy

    Jivvy the research is my favorite

    My first stab at the name is "Bhael" (which is a legit surname).

    But I'm on my way out the door, so that's all for now. ;)
     
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  3. Jivvy

    Jivvy the research is my favorite

    Seriously, I'm going to be late.

    But please let me know if this was found in Tennessee or Texas.

    The "Bhael" surname is legit (I've seen it on a headstone), but barely. One formerly "Bell" family that changed their name. *intrigue*
     
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  4. blooey

    blooey Well-Known Member

    Found in Western Canada ...;)
     
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  5. Jivvy

    Jivvy the research is my favorite

    Well, paintings and people move, so it doesn't rule anything out, but it is a data point.

    These people lived in Paris, Texas and that's really mucking with my searching. :hilarious:
     
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  6. blooey

    blooey Well-Known Member

    :D:D:D:hilarious:
     
  7. Jivvy

    Jivvy the research is my favorite

    hmm. Two artists.

    Virginia Bleuel (California)
    Egbert Blauel (Canada)
     
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  8. aaroncab

    aaroncab in veritate victoria

    Its nice!
     
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  9. Jivvy

    Jivvy the research is my favorite

    That first letter is infuriating. Any chance at getting a higher res pic?
     
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  10. Jivvy

    Jivvy the research is my favorite

    hmm... "Yhuel" is a legit name.
     
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  11. Jivvy

    Jivvy the research is my favorite

    "Yhuel" feels the best to me. BUT. Haven't found an artist to go with the name. :p
     
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  12. blooey

    blooey Well-Known Member

    It is infuriating, agree there! I don't have a better pic on hand, these were taken eons ago ...sorry
     
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  13. blooey

    blooey Well-Known Member

  14. Jivvy

    Jivvy the research is my favorite

    I really think Yhuel is a strong possibility. It means the first letter is quirky, but not scuffed away. It explains the slight curves at the top of the lines and the line across the bottom.

    The problem is ... "Yhuel" most likely means a French artist and my lack of ability in reading French is a significant stumbling block to research.
     
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  15. blooey

    blooey Well-Known Member

    I have a copy of Benezit. I'll have a look later on. If he or she is French (or any other nationality) it will be in there.

    I also have Thieme Becker and I'll check that too and report back when I get back from my library. Thanks @Jivvy
     
  16. Jivvy

    Jivvy the research is my favorite

  17. Figtree3

    Figtree3 What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    Finally, a signature that probably would have been a lot easier except for that smudge!

    It appears there is an umlaut above the penultimate letter... so Bhaël, Yhaël, Dhaël (et cetera) are possibilities.
     
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  18. Jivvy

    Jivvy the research is my favorite

    Also Bhuël, Yhuël, Dhuël (et cetera)

    A sound argument can be made that the top of the bowl of the "a" is a spot of paint that's part of the painting, not part of the sig. A similarly colored spot can be seen to the right of the signature.

    Not that I have found anything with these reads. :joyful:
     
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  19. Figtree3

    Figtree3 What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    So many possibilities! ;)
     
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  20. blooey

    blooey Well-Known Member

    Oh well, maybe some clues will surface in the NEXT 20 years ...:bigtears:
     
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