catalog text
GERMAN GENRE SCENE
Circa late 19th century
Street Urchins Playing Cards
Oil on canvas | Signed lower right "JMM" and dated '88
Item # 301HQS16A
A vibrant genre scene of two young street boys playing a game of cards, there is an eerie translucency to the scene with a thinness of oil layered over faint graphite outlines that is almost ghostly. The boys are intricately detailed and full of life, but the translucency of the scene is suggestive of how the world views these homeless boys of the late 19th century - forgotten, a mist quickly disappearing. Presumably dated 1888 (lower right "88"), it was a brutal time to be homeless. Survival on the streets was difficult and life was precarious. But in the midst of great uncertainty, these boys find joy in the simple things: a game of cards on a quiet street sidewalk.
The painting is labeled as having been offered at Sotheby's at one point, though we could not find a record of it. It is housed in a gorgeous early and likely original giltwood frame. It has been fully restored by our conservator and is ready to place.
Measurements: 20 1/4" H x 26 1/8" W [canvas]; 30 3/4" H x 36 3/4" W x 3 1/4" D [frame]
Condition Report: Professionally conserved, at which point it was relined with linen and BEVA on original stretcher bars and a hole in the center of the painting was restored; the old yellowed varnish was removed along with old overpaint and thereafter was sealed in a traditional damar varnish. Surface presents with a translucency coupled with a degree of overcleaning that reveals lower layers and softens some detail. Under UV there is extensive inpainting including to the sidewalk, the left boy's shoes and pants and the wall behind the boys together with smaller specks and spots of touch ups - the signature and date flare under UV and suggest possible touch ups; light craquelure throughout; a very nice presentation. The frame appears to be the first frame and presents beautifully with typical losses to giltwood, chipping, separations, etc. A more fully comprehensive condition report on the frame is available upon request.