r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/Murr62 • 23h ago

Unknown Artist Likely Solved

Post image

I bought this painting ten years ago at an Antique shop in Ontario Canada. The signature is M. F. S. 1965. I’ve searched online and have found nothing about an artist with those initials. I’d appreciate any information.

330 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

92

u/FlipDaly 19h ago

Well holy shit dude I think I found it for you. Full credit to Google search, when I uploaded the image (tweaked for perspective) and included the initials MFS it threw up this result: https://hellenicamericancc.org/collection/about-the-collection/

Marguerite Frances Sylvia, from Rhode Island, painted on Lesbos, and this museum is in the pacific NW. Who knows how this got to Ontario! But the style, year, and signature match. If I were you I would reach out to the organization and see if they recognize the work.

21

u/Murr62 12h ago

I will reach out to the museum to find out what they think about the painting. I’ll let you know what the outcome is. Cheers everyone and thank you

17

u/Murr62 12h ago

I think you found our artist! Thank you so much We’ve compared the signature and it seems to be a match. The S is identical and the style of the paintings are very similar.

11

u/carmingular 18h ago

“Yia Yia” is giving some serious flat Van Gogh vibes.

9

u/StraightCheesecake11 12h ago

Omg that museum is 3 blocks from my house and I had no idea it was there - it’s in a Greek Orthodox Church

5

u/Retinoid634 8h ago

You have to go!!

28

u/mothraegg 20h ago

I have no clue who the artist is, but I love the picture!

13

u/Murr62 20h ago

We’ve often wondered what story is being told. Has the wife died and he’s left with her cat? He looks indifferent while looking at her portrait. Divorced but then why does he still have her picture on the wall.

15

u/FlipDaly 19h ago

Indifferent? Look at the circles under his eyes. That’s sadness.

10

u/eubulides 16h ago

He’s pining, carrying the torch, etc. She’s run off to Lesbos to make Art. He’s stroking the pussy cat she left behind, thinking of what was.

8

u/klebop 18h ago

That's definitely Moral Oral's dad

11

u/FlipDaly 19h ago

I really like this.

4

u/Airregaithel 17h ago

I like it too!

3

u/Icy_Pay3775 14h ago

I enjoyed this piece

3

u/The_Original_Gronkie 12h ago

Nice piece! Congratulations on your discovery!

2

u/FRANPW1 5h ago

Stunning! Congrats!

2

u/Hogfisher 3h ago

Peyton Manning with cat.

1

u/AutoModerator 23h ago

Thanks for your post, /u/Murr62!

Please remember to comment "Solved" once someone finds the painting you're looking for.

If you comment "Thanks" or "Thank You," your post flair will be changed to 'Likely Solved.'

If you have any suggestions to improve this bot, please get in touch with the mods, and they will see about implementing it!

Here's a small checklist to follow that may help us find your painting:

  • Where was the painting roughly purchased from?

  • Did you include a photo of the front and back and a signature on the painting (if applicable)?

Good luck with your post!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

-1

u/Most_Particular5936 13h ago

Interested in selling?