galleryofunknowns

[galleryofunknowns]

European school, 'Portrait of a Lady with her Dog', oil on canvas, late 18th century, for sale for est. 250-500 EUR at Coronari, October 2024.

[galleryofunknowns]

Charles Soubre (b.1821 - d.1895), 'Portrait of a Noble Lady', oil on canvas, c.1879, Belgian, for sale for est. 200-400 EUR at Coronari Auctions, October 2024.

[galleryofunknowns]

European school, 'Lady in an Interior', gouache on paper, c.1840-1860, for sale for est. 150-250 EUR at Coronari Auctions, October 2024.

[galleryofunknowns]

Theo van Rysselberghe (b.1862 - d.1926), 'Maud assise', oil on canvas, c.1916, Belgian, for sale for est. 20,000-40,000 EUR at Coronari, October 2024.

Maud, whom Coronari calls one of Rysselberghe's favourite models from the early 20th century, was also painted in other works during Rysselberghe's 1914-1916 period, including 'Modele au repos (Maud)', 'Maud debout', and 'Nu assis (Maud)'. Formerly in the collection of Sidney Rothberg (b.1924 - d.2008).

[galleryofunknowns]

Thomas Willeboirts Bosschaert (b.1613 - d.1654), 'Lady with a Pearl Necklace', white and black chalk on paper, no date (17th century), Dutch, for sale est. 8,000-12,000 EUR at Coronari Auctions, October 2024.

[galleryofunknowns]

Attributed to Erik Wahlbergson (b.1808 - d.1865) 'Siblings with an illustrated book', oil on canvas, no date (1840s?), Swedish, for sale est. 10,000 SEK in Bukowski's Classical Antiques sale, February 2025.

[galleryofunknowns]

I'm sure you will get more informed opinions than my own, but I'm happy to add a few ways it could be interpreted and why those might be, as well as its historical context. Ultimately, all my thoughts, but that's art for you.

The painting is 'The Confession' by Guiseppe Molteni, a 19th century Italian painter, and currently in the Gallerie di Piazza Scala in Milan. It was painted in 1838 and is oil on canvas, as well as being quite large - about 174cm (H) x 141cm (W).

Molteni appears to have gained quite a bit of popularity as a painter of genre scenes, which depict everyday life and common folk, as opposed to opulent portraits, still lives, or religious images (we'll get back to genre painting). Make no mistake however - this is still an intensely religious image, of course, and quite a few of his other works contain strong moral messages of righteousness, humility, pathos, suffering, and forgiveness, of which the iconography and 'way of seeing' those values are derived primarily from how Catholocism would have taught them.

For 'The Confession', I would note that there are a few similarities with other paintings of Molteni's, including 'A Beggar with her Daughter' and 'Mother Mourning the Death of Her Child'. The latter uses lighting to emphasise the central figure of the mother, but also in a way that is casting her in a 'glow' - of goodness, of morality, of piety. This is an idealised mother, she remains beautiful even when dishevelled, and gazes to the heavens for guidance; so whilst not explicitly religious, I'd argue it is using imagery and motifs not unusual in religious paintings.

'Confession' is much more of a slice-of-life, a staged scene (after all, we can see both sides of the booth) and more 'genre', but also calls upon a few religious norms; the luminousness of the image is centred on our priest in confession, he is older (and can be presumed, wiser), his gaze is downcast, perhaps in thoughtfullness, and expression is soft but rather fixed, solemn. Our lady is quite different; young, gently leaning in, hand tucked up near her face, indicating shyness, hesitation, and she's also kneeling to reach the screen, whilst it can be presumed that he is standing or sitting. I think a fairly standard reading would be to see an image of supplication and deference, sharing a secret which is being taken quite seriously, in the hopes of being dispensed wisdom and assurance. Contemporary sources to the painting appeared to suggest that the woman in the painting was a young woman (and a mother) who had acted flirtatiously or even allowed herself to take advances from an admirer; she has made a mistake, but is not completely irredeemable (another Moltini painting depicts a fallen woman, who is in much less fine clothes).

However, it's completely accurate to also see something a bit more salacious in it - there's plenty to work with here. The woman's pose, which can be interpreted as deferential, can also be equally wily, coquettish, even cute; in particular, I think the head covering she is wearing (for religious purpose - women still in some places are asked to cover their heads when entering particularly sacred spaces) is sheer, allowing us to see hear features and fashionable hair easily. Leaning in to share her sin, she instinctively invites her conversation partner to lean in too, and unlike the grieving mother painting, she doesn't seem in significant distress; whatever she is confessing, it can't be too bad. Her clothing is rendered quite beautifully too - she's not an aristocrat by any means, but she's well mannered and well dressed. The way our priest is leaning in emphasises the shadows on his face, perhaps suggesting that what he is contemplating is not too pure, and yet his forward lean and opening the small hatch door suggests he is reciprocating or at the very least, open to whatever her suggestion may be. This could be their first meeting, or perhaps a repeat rendevous; the overall composition and suggestion is that these two are sharing a secret, and we are asked to guess what that may be, which is always fun - Moltini was a contemporary with Franceso Hayez, who is very well known for his fantastic paintings 'The Kiss' and 'Vengeance is Sworn', also paintings with captivating stories to tell; depending on what you'd like to hear. That's the great thing about art :)

story idea: someone confessing to a priest, deliberately trying to get him hot and bothered or otherwise make him squirm

[galleryofunknowns]

Attributed to August Schoefft (Hungarian, b.1809 - d.1888), 'Portrait of Lal Singh (d.1866) Vizier to the Maharaja Duleep Singh', oil on canvas, no date (1840s), painted in India or Europe (possibly Lahore or Budapest), for sale for est. 30,000 - 50,000 GBP in Christie's 'Art of the Islamic World', October, 2022.

Formerly in the collection of the Maharaja Duleep Singh (b.1838 - d.1893) then his daughter, Princess Bamba Jindan (b.1869 - d.1957); later, the Government of Pakistan in the Lahore Fort Museum, Pakistan.

[galleryofunknowns]

Karl Gampenrieder (b.1860 - d.1930), 'An Elegant Lady', oil on canvas, c.1900 - 1910, German, for sale for 10,500 EUR at Galerie William Diximus, Saint Ouen, France.

[galleryofunknowns]

Pierre Jollain (b.1720 - d.1768), 'The Repose of Diana', oil on canvas, c.1755, French, for sale for est. 6,000-8,000 EUR at Tajan, Paris, France.

[galleryofunknowns]

Nicolaes Maes (b.1634 - d.1693), 'Portrait of Hermanus Amija and Catherine Vogelaar, husband and wife', oil on canvas, both c.1683, Dutch, both currently in the collection of the Louvre, Paris, France.

Formerly in the collection of the Count Oscar de l'Espine (b.1827 - d.1892), then his daughter, Hortense de l'Espine, Princess Louis de Croy (b.1867 - d.1932), who donated it to the Louvre in 1830.

[galleryofunknowns]

In the manner of Agnolo Bronzino (b.1503 - d.1572), 'Portrait of a Lady', oil on panel, no date (16th century), Italian, currently in the collection of the Louvre, Paris, France.

Formerly attributed to Bronzino himself, this was one of the many paintings stored at Alt Aussee after being stolen by the Nazis in WWII. See above for comparison shots of the painting after and before cleaning.

[galleryofunknowns]

Bartholomeus van der Helst (b.1613 - d.1670), 'Portrait of the Reepmaker Family', oil on canvas, c.1669, Dutch, currently in the collection of the Louvre, Paris, France.

The family consists of Anthonie Reepmaker (b.1634 - d.1691), and his wife, Suzanna Gommers (b.1633 - d.1698), accompanied by their two children Jacob (b.1663) and Ernest (b.1666). Ernest is holding an medallion with an image of William III of Orange, the future King of England, indicating the family's pro Monarchical political stance, notable as the painting was created during the Republican period of the Netherlands. Likely passed down through generations of the Reepmaker family; at some point in the late 1890s, acquired by a dealer and sold to Baron Basile de Schlichting (b.1852 - d.1914), bequeathed to the Louvre c.1914.

[galleryofunknowns]

Francois Boucher (b.1703 - d.1770), 'The Charming Villagers', oil on canvas, no date (c.1760-1765), French, for sale for est. 60,000-80,000 EUR at Tajan, Paris, France.

Possibly a study for a tapestry 'La Noble Pastorale', which was never completed. Formerly from the collection of Etienne Arago (b.1802 - d.1892), noted writer and politician, then the Baron de Beurnonville, 1881.

[galleryofunknowns]

Studio of Philippe de Champaigne (b.1602 - d.1674), 'A Young Lady with Folded Hands', oil on canvas, circa 1640-1650, French, currently in the collection of the Louvre, Paris, France.

Siezed from the collection of Philippe de Noailles (b.1715 - d.1794), Duke de Mouchy and Prince de Poix, c.1794, then transferred to the Louvre in 1798.

[galleryofunknowns]

Alexandre Francois Desportes (b.1661 - d.1743), 'Portrait of the Artist as a Hunter', oil on canvas, c.1699, French, currently in the collection of the Louvre, Paris, France.

[galleryofunknowns]

Unknown Artist, 'A Young Woman in Blue & White', oil on canvas, no date (second half of the 18th century), French, sold by Serignan Antiques, Avignon, France.