Antique 1800s Oil Painting on Male Portrait

This charming antique oil painting portrait, likely dating to the mid-to-late 19th century, depicts a distinguished gentleman in a bust-length view. Painted in oil over a photographic base, a common technique of the era, the portrait captures the subject with a dark suit, high white collar, and black cravat. His face, adorned with a prominent mustache and goatee, is rendered with visible brushstrokes against a dark, atmospheric background. The artwork is housed in a simple, narrow, gold-gilt wooden frame that shows signs of age and wear, including some chips and rubbing. The painting itself has a lovely aged patina, with some minor paint loss, surface dirt, and a slightly yellowed varnish, which only adds to its historical character.

What makes this particular piece truly fascinating is the handwritten inscription found on the reverse. The back of the panel features a poignant note in cursive script that reads: "Please Bring This Back as I have put it ... to save the painting not being dry to rubb off but I will need it to paint the other," followed by the signature "M. A. Andrews". This inscription offers a rare, intimate glimpse into the artist's process, suggesting that the work was handled while the oil paint was still tacky and that it served as a reference for a companion piece. The reverse side also reveals the original wood panel backing secured by small nails and a simple wire hanger. This portrait, with its direct connection to the artist M. A. Andrews, would make a handsome and historically significant addition to a gallery wall, study, or any collection of 19th-century Americana.

Condition: Oil painting is in excellent antique condition. Wood frame is lightweight and bares considerable wear consistent with vintage to antique age.

Measurements (approximate - rounded to the nearest quarter inch):
10.75 inches in height
9 inches in width
1 inch in depth

All sales are final so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions prior to purchase. Other objects found in the listing photos are for decorative use only and not included in this purchase.

VINTAGE & ANTIQUE
Vintage and antique items are pre-owned and aged goods. In most cases, we do not clean or polish any items that come into our shop. Once you remove an item's traces of age and patina it's not something you can reverse, so we leave those activities up to the buyer. We do not disassemble found art from their frames unless it is necessary to differentiate a print from an original piece of art. Vintage prints purchased from this shop could originate from any print media (e.g., magazines, books, photographs, art prints, etc.). We try our best to describe items accurately and disclose any and all flaws and imperfections. Please refer to pictures as a visual description. We want to make sure you are happy with your purchase so, please do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have prior to checkout.

SHIPPING
As much as possible, we utilize recycled shipping boxes. The box you receive your item in may show signs of wear and pre-use.

PHOTOGRAPHY
All photos are taken in natural light and we do not use any photo filters and do not perform and photo editing (other than basic photo cropping). Depending on your monitor settings, there may be subtle differences in color once you see your item in person.