Faking It....

Richard Parkes Bonington (25 October 1802 – 23 September 1828) was an English Romantic landscape painter, who moved to France at the age of 14 and can also be considered as a French artist, and an intermediary bringing aspects of English style to France. Becoming after his very early death one of the most influential British artists of his time, the facility of his style was inspired by the old masters, yet was entirely modern in its application. His landscapes were mostly of coastal scenes, with a low horizon and large sky, showing a brilliant handling of light and atmosphere.

This painting came to me last year, and as it says on the frame in the lower centre, it is purported to be a painting by Richard Parkes Bonington.

On the back of the painting is a newspaper ad, clearly from another time, looking for additional paintings by Bonington and from an art project in London, England. As several of us were pretty certain this was not a Bonington, I ventured to contact the agency and they informed the the ad was 40 years old and the woman who ran the ad and the Bonington project, was long gone from their employee. But, she had been replaced by a man who eventually became the Director of a major US museum in the upper mid-west. I contacted him, and he asked for a photo of the painting which I sent immediately. He assured me that not only was it not a Bonington but it was not even a copy of a Bonington!

I hope to sell it this year, and instead of being a painting worth $150,000 and up, I hope to get $200 for it. It has a great 19^th century frame and would look great with a mirror in it.

I will need the owner to give her OK for this, and I have the feeling she bought it years ago assuming it was real. She may not be willing to let it go.