19th Century French Genre Scene Overdoor Painting on Board

Genre paintings, such as this outdoor scene on a board, depict people engaged in leisurely activities, such as picnicking, hunting, or walking through a park. They were popular during the 17th and 18th centuries, with most artists originating from France, Belgium, or the Netherlands. This particular painting was most likely the upper portion of a 19th-century French trumeau mirror or an overdoor in a boiserie room, based on the shaped board that the artist rendered.

The surrounding landscape is full of contour and dotted with dark vegetation. A few trees can be seen with sparse, lightly colored leaves, indicating it is most likely early autumn. In the center of the illustration is a woman in red with a large hat sitting on a gray horse. Two wiry dogs trail behind, as a man clad in tan and orange with a bright blue sash gestures to the slight rise in front of the rider. Beyond the ridge, a white horse can be seen with a rider dressed all in white sounding a horn. This rider is also accompanied by an attendant on foot. A man wearing all gray stands atop a small bluff on the right, with a dog on a leash at his feet. A backing board with hanging wire has been added more recently to strengthen the board, allowing our genre scene painting on board to be affixed to any wall of the house.

CONDITION: Very good antique condition, with minor nicks and losses to the edges. Light rubs to the paint. A backing board has been added more recently, as well as rigging for purposes of hanging. Professional restoration work.

max H - 28 1/2, max W - 38 1/2, D - 1/4