Antique (pitch lake surface) oil painting on wo... Value & Appraisal

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Posted by Dante5

16 years ago

AI Appraisal

Description Hello everyone, I have this very old painting I found here in Central Georgia (USA) that appears to be unsigned. It is an oil painting on a board. Measuring 32" long and 16" wide 4/16” thick (board). With 7 supporting beams on back measuring 1 ½ “ wide and ½” thick. The painting image appear pitch lake like. On the back side of board is some type of marking but I am not sure what to make of it. (included in photos) I’ve researched the type of "wood" used for the painting. It has a strong resemblance to the American Elm or Kentucky Coffee Tree. My theory is the origin would be the Plymouth Colony region. The artist characters depicted agrees with my theory(Pilgrims). The age of the painting is of a mystery to me. It appears to be ancient ;). Moving along with my theory, the artist scene depicts a bedrock coastline with rocky outcropping coast near a lighthouse. Could it have been little Benjamin Franklin? History noted in 1718 the Little Brewster Island Lighthouse, in the Boston Harbor region had a tragedy. The first lighthouse keeper and wife drowned. Benjamin Franklin wrote a ballad about the tragedy at the lighthouse called "Lighthouse Tragedy". Could it be the painting was inspired by this event circa c17--? Any thoughts on this one would be greatly appreciated. Photos attached, I can also provide many other photos of this painting.