the pic of the lady had a boo boo, and that's part of my question. how should I attempt to repair this? I'm not overly worried about resale or anything like that (assuming like I said that it had any real value) I'm more interested in just hanging them so that they are presentable.

anyone have any ideas or thoughts on these?

The boy is a commonly produced reproduction of Thomas Gainsborough's "Blue Boy". Not sure about the original artist of the girl/companion piece, tho it's titled "Pinky" per the stamp.

My guess is more vintage than antique, commonly sold at Dept stores. Can't find history on Illinois Moulding but found reference JC Penney carried their items as well.

Here's an ebay listing for the pair, $10.

Frames are probably worth more than the prints inside due to mass production, but hey, if you like them, hang them. Not sure how one would go about a successful repair tho. Don't think it would be worth the time/cost. Perhaps easier to get a pair of same reprints in good condition, same size, and put them in your current frames?

Rjinga, sorry you got it between the eyes for your question. Both of these pictures, like said, are reproductions of very famous paintings. Those aren't brushmarks you see, but are on the paper finish and are suppose to give the impression of brush marks. All old papers yellow, nicotine or not. I can tell you these prints are older than 1965, because the company address has a zone, instead of a zip code. So, it's a vintage copy, but a very budget one.

If you particularly like those prints you can buy them printed on canvas rather cheaply. I have one of those (picked up at a yard sale), I know it's a cheaply made fake, but it goes well in a bedroom and I like it. That's all that's necessary in artwork. You torn pic cannot be easily fixed, nor is it worth the money or effort. These pictures have essentially no resale value.

Casey

Good catch, calliope! Do you (or anyone) know the artist who did "Pinkie"? I tried to find info on it and nothing came up. I'm very curious about how this particular marriage came about, it seemed to be a popular one. (I remember a great aunt when I was a child that had a large repro of each of the two in her living room.) I searched but just couldn't find anything about her, nor any reference that she was done by Gainsborough as well?

There appears to be some paper missing in the damaged part, which makes repair difficult. You have to paste down the peeling paper and then paint the missing part to match.

If you suspect somebody is trolling, just look at the history of their other posts. It should be obvious. I couldn't believe the OP didn't know this was Blue Boy and Pinkie either. So I looked to see what their other posts were like. Many of us who post here have been around a few decades. We remember the reproductions in department stores, but we should also take into account department stores hardly exist anymore and there is an whole adult generation who haven't been exposed to the era of great art repros on a plebian scale.

How could it possibly make anyone feel good to publicly humiliate a person by suggesting they are culturally illiterate? It's especially a pity when a person who has a lot of experience and expertise does it, because it biases their input. Think of all the people who would like to ask a question on a forum like this who won't because they might not want to be set up for public ridicule.

I think the best suggestion so far.....take a couple of $$ and buy a whole new set, they're just not worth the time or effort it will take to repair them. MHO only.

As you can see, yours is quite faded. If you really like the print, it is readily available.

I agree, keep them and display them if you love them, but don't invest any time or money making repairs. And for the rest who set themselves up as arbiters of taste, might be good to take a kinder, gentler approach.

Barbara

I miss her very much, though I do not miss not her taste in kitsch. ;)

You can take a toothpick and dab a little white glue under the lifted paper and press it down. If you have some acrylic paint (because it will match the sheen) mix some Cerulean Blue, White, and add in a tiny bit of Umber. You might need a bit of Cadmium Yellow, too. Test it on a another piece of paper, dry it with a hair dryer and hold it to the painting to see when you get a match. It might take several tries. Apply as little paint as you can to just the white torn parts. Use a tiny brush.

I simply asked for some thoughts on fixing a tear. Realizing that the material was old (hence the reason to post on the OLD aka antique forum) I figured someone here (thank you sunnyca) might at least have some practical experience in repairing something like this and would offer some assistance. I did NOT know the print, I've never had much exposure to the ART world in general. Perhaps it's just not my forte. It's certainly a personal choice rather than being STUPID as you have assumed. But thanks for the uplifting criticism.

2 words, for you mongrel: SCREW YOU, how's that for culturally illiterate. You are a pompous ass and all I can say is that I hope you are never in a position to EVER interact with anyone who might have a passion for learning art, as you would undoubtedly prove to be a wet blanket to anyone who would dare ask your highness a question. My skin is thick and your kind do not bother me, nor affect me in any way. So just simply get over yourself already.

PS: I would have chimed in sooner, but it appears that the feature to receive email responses was not activated in for this post in error, that surely was a blessing from the GW God's now wasn't it.

PSS: I hung the pictures, did a simple little touch up with a matching paint and they are fine.

PSSS: I will look into my local art store and see if I can get the cheap-o prints here and swap them out. I think they are quite charming in my newly redecorated room.

NOTE: PICTURE BELOW IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART/ALSO NOT FOR MONGREL AKA CASEY AKA JERKWAD:

I did NOT know the print, I've never had much exposure to the ART world in general. Perhaps it's just not my forte. It's certainly a personal choice rather than being STUPID as you have assumed. But thanks for the uplifting criticism.
I hope that you have not been insulted by my comments about where they came from, possible date, etc.? It wasn't meant to show any level of expertise or lack thereof on my part or yours. It's just something I tend to do here, try to research a little, track info down, only because of the nature of the forum itself. Kind of like solving a puzzle to me, I enjoy it. ;) And in the process I learned about Pinkie! I know you didn't specifically ask for background info, but I sort of interpreted it that way from this line: anyone have any ideas or thoughts on these?

Any, hope there's not hard feelings, none were intended.

"My parents have collected antiques and have had businesses selling antiques all my life. I've found people in this business to be above the fray, helpful and kind people, maybe it's time to remind those "experts" over there about this known fact. "

And on this thread, says he/she knows nothing about art. So which is it?

This smells like a rather elaborate prank, frankly.

In my area, you can't go to a furniture auction without falling over early nineteenth century furniture. Its an old city with old families and there is a lot of it around. Just by casual observation I have learned to tell some differences between late Federal, Empire, and Classical.

I doubt a regional antique dealer in the area I grew up would recognize these pieces without a reference book. The area I grew up in was not settled until the latter part of the nineteenth century and a dealer there may have a comprehensive knowlege of Bavarian-American vernacular primitives that have never been seen here on the eastern seaboard.

Knowledge of art vs antiques may be mutually exclusive as well as limited but extensive knowledge about one area.

This forum is also about "collectibles" and departmant store reproduction art is collectible. Fine art and fine antiques are really few and far between:)

I'm in the middle of decorating a room, my mom is arriving Wednesday, I came across these pictures, I thought they would tie in nicely with the colors and theme of the room, but unfortunatley one had a tear, I wanted to try to fix it as best as I could so that I could use it in the room. I was not trying to pass it off as anything at all, I really did not do any research on the origin or content of the pictures, nor did I necessarily care. I asked a simple (so I thought) question and I got reamed a new one.

Seriously, you people feeling the need to jump on me need to get over yourselves. you appear to be a bunch of self righteous know it alls. Perhaps you have somehow failed in the real world at being important art critics, and you feel the need to come here to bully people who dont know as much as you do, who knows.

Moonshadow, I was not in any way offended by your comment or the info you shared. Absolutely no hard feelings.

Did I need to say that my parents collect and sell antiques which include mostly glassware, collectibles, primatives, some antique furntiture, guns, toys dolls, china things of that nature. I also do not include "art" into the antique venue, Although clearly it can be just that.

G's sorry I bothered you all. I'll let you all get back to reruns of the golden girls now.

I'm about done with the room and I am really loving it, I think she will too.

When you post pictures of things on this forum where people are asking and giving information about antiques and collectables you should assume that an assessment will be given.
You asked....you came here....you posted 5 pictures, you got answers.
Linda C

Well, again, the simple explanation for ALL of my questions, was that I did not know what it was, I only assumed it was old, again HENCE posting here. If I knew what it was and knew that it was a yard sale throw away at best, do you really think that I'd embarrass myself like that? And subject myself to the horrible, mean and insulting comments that I received?

Of course I would not. And of course I was curious about what if anything they might be, again because I DID NOT KNOW. But that was not my primary interest, my interest was in seeing if anyone could offer some helpful tips on mending an old material.

Which is why I also said:
" I'm more interested in just hanging them so that they are presentable"

I think it's time to let this thread go away now. NUFF SAID

I'll be certain not to invite you to my torture chamber called a guest room. You'd probably have nightmares. But I'm sure you feel good about weighing in to get your two cents worth in. But was it really necessary? pretty petty if you ask me. I think someone else said it best, if you dont have something nice to say, keep your yap shut.

Doesn't anyone ever think of just *ignoring *the *comments *they *don't *like? Especially when the original commment is provocative and meant to start a B*tch fest? I think some people like working their aggressions out on these boards and the retaliating parties are almost as guilty as the people who start it up. Ignore It Just Like You Ignore Things In Real Life.

NOW IS THAT ENOUGH SAID?

That said, it turned into a bunch of commentary on this, and carried over to the Decorating board, that the Antiques board is a place where people go to insult each other. You were not insulted by everyone on this board by a longshot. It started with one person only.

rjinga, I certainly meant no offense by my posting, I was just reminiscing about seeing these two paintings 'in the flesh'. I felt it was a totally magical experience, and get the same feelings everytime I see them, whether it be repro paintings, on a coffe mug, whatever.

I think they look great in your guest room. Please humor me for a minute and try something. Would you consider swapping the pictures? They were painted by two different artists and are not a 'set', but Pinky is turned ever so slightly to her left and Blue Boy is ever so slightly to his right. By having them face each other, I get a sense of accord and harmony. Please give it a try and let me know what you think.

Barbara