This piece is painted on a historic “Academy Board” manufactured by A.H. Abbott & Co., a prominent fine art supplier located at 50 Madison Street in Chicago during the late 1880s. The original paper trade label is beautifully preserved on the reverse, grounding the artwork directly to the late-Victorian American art market (circa 1885–1889).
Overall, good antique condition. Shows wear commensurate with age. This 140-year-old piece of art is entirely original and unrestored condition. Under blacklight, the painting confirms a uniform, historic varnish glow. There is no modern overpainting, touch-ups, or modern restoration work present. Due to age and environmental changes over the last century, there is a horizontal band of paint lifting, cracking, and flaking/loss in the sky area near the upper inner frame border. The central composition (trees, water, rocks, and boat) remains vibrant and stable with very small areas of surface scratching/loss. The artwork is housed in a period-appropriate green painted wooden frame with an inner gold liner and gold external border, showing minor edge wear and water staining on the raw wood backing consistent with its age. Painting is mostly secure to frame with more modern tape applied to the back. See photos. Displays handsomely!
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