PAIR Large 27x20\" 18thC European Reverse Glass Paintings Christie\'s Provenance For Sale

RARE MATCHED PAIR OF OVARSIZED LATE-18th CENTURY EUROPEAN SCHOOL REVERSE GLASS PAINTINGS

Provenance: Formally vetted and sold by Christie’s New York on June 6, 2006 (\"The House Sale,\" Sale 1674, Lot 443). Retains the original barcode-tracked Christie\'s inventory labels on the reverse panel.

Overview:

Offered here is an exceptional, unbroken matched pair of Georgian-era European School reverse glass paintings. Due to the high risk of breakage and the massive structural difficulty of creating uniform, flat large-scale glass panes in the 1700s, surviving reverse glass works of this impressive 27\" x 20\" scale are exceedingly rare.

Designed as narrative companion pieces meant to face one another, the continuous rolling horizons and background estates create a sweeping pastoral landscape scene.

Painting 1:

Depicts a classic outdoor family conversation piece centering an elegant gentleman on a stone bench holding a pocket watch, accompanied by children playfully interacting with a large hound.

Painting 2:

Features a young gentleman in a bright blue frock coat and plumed hat flanked by two elegant ladies under a matched tree canopy, mirrored by a young boy embracing a lamb in the foreground.The artistic execution features charmingly stylized narrative figures popular in Central European and English high society, heavily adapted from famous master print engravings of the era.

Both artworks remain completely intact within their original, period-correct ebonized wood frames, highlighted by an inner gilded cove displaying carved, historic bead-and-reel molding. The raw wood backing panel features early handwritten inventory/monogram markings

Condition Report:

Excellent antique condition consistent with a 230+ year lifespan. The reverse-painted pigments behind the glass panels remain bright, rich, and highly stable with no severe flaking or dynamic loss. Frames exhibit minor, expected historic surface wear, stable age splitting to the reverse wood backing planks, and original hanging wires as pictured.