Featured Portrait - need help with artist, dating and value

My grandmother owned an antique shop just south of Dallas in the 1950’s. In the mid 1950’s she purchased this portrait from a Czech family in Ennis, TX. The frame is the original though it looks like she added a support piece on the back so she could hang it. This hung on the wall of my parent’s home for years but was just removed from storage after 10 years or more so we can get more info about it.

It was painted on blue and white striped mattress ticking which I have found is not a rare thing.

There is no signature though there maybe a shadow of one. The pics show measurements and close ups.

I would appreciate any assistance you can provide. My dad intends on getting an official appraisal if it has potential value.


This is at the bottom right hand of the painting. It almost looks like there was a signature at one time.

Not sure why the pics started posting on their side. Sorry!

 

It's nicely done, perhaps painted by an amateur.
The cracked surface will significantly lower value.
I think she is mid-late 19th century.

 

To my eye, looks like the work of a regional artist in a not-original-to-the-painting frame. Clothing is Victorian. The background, clothing and even hair is executed in a quite prefunctory manner but, oddly, the facial features are quite well done. She'd be recognizable if she walked in the door today. Canvas cut down and condition rough. Unless she can be identified or attributed to a particular artist, think value would be minimal.

Debora

 

I would think mid-Victorian from the deep décolletage and diadem. The diadem is quite distinctive by way. Not the type of accessory I'd expect to find in small town Texas during the period but could be wrong.

Debora

 

JMHO. will be VERY hard to find a match. I have a book 1878 - 1914 from an exhibiton about czech painters - and all are very individually painting. from what I saw in Prague it could even be later, this "cool" elegance of the face and the combination of the colors could be 1920 - 1930s.

 

I would guess another itinerant portraitist effort. It has a surreal quality to my eye, almost as if the face is floating in front of the rest.

 

Yes, her torso is very poorly defined.

Debora

 

You are on point. It’s almost like two different artists painted it. Very odd.

 

I agree! Very surreal.

 

Thank you! Great feedback.