Description
Based on the signatures and style, here is a breakdown of what you have:
About the Art
- Artist: The signature reads “Franca.” While there isn’t one singular world-renowned master by this name, “Franca” was a prolific signature associated with decorative oils produced for the mass market during the mid-20th century.
- Style: These are impasto oil paintings, characterized by the thick, textured application of paint (visible in the clown’s ruff and the background of the banjo player).
- Subject Matter: One painting depicts a “Hobo” style clown with a birdcage and umbrella, a common trope representing the “sad but hopeful” wanderer. The second depicts a musical clown with a banjo. These were often sold in pairs or sets to decorate dens, hallways, or children’s rooms.
Frame: The frames appear to be original to the period—dark wood with a thin orange/red “liner” or fillet. This color pop was a hallmark of 1960s interior design.
Frame Damage: There is some loss of finish on the corners and edges due to normal wear of age as well as some “nicking” of the finish on the frame.
Surface Wear: There appear to be some minor scuffs on the wood finish, though the canvases themselves seem to be in relatively stable condition without major cracking (craquelure) or paint loss.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.