Oil Painting Floral

Oil Painting Floral

Although tapestry been a popular artistic medium for thousands of years, it was the French who truly brought this beautiful decorative art to the world's attention. The earliest designs are a unique peak into the traditions and even the lifestyles of early Europeans from the medieval ages on. Here is an overview of some of the most common themes.

Biblical Stories

Although very few, if any, tapestries survive from Medieval times due to the delicate nature and decomposable nature of the fabric, we know that the earliest French tapestries focused mainly on the telling of biblical stories. The social life of villages revolved around the Church, and since the huge majority of the populace was illiterate, the clergy looked for ways to teach their congregations popular Bible stories. Tapestries were created and hung on sanctuary walls depicting stories from Adam and Eve to the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Not only were these wall hangings educational, they also served to insulate parishioners from the effects of the cold stone walls.

Historical

One of the most famous French tapestries is the Bayeux tapestry which dates all the way back a thousand and relates the entire story of the 11th century Norman conquests. Again, the purpose was to not only educate the public about historical events, but also to glorify the triumphs of war through artistic mediums.

Family Honor

As noblemen and royalty began using tapestries as wall coverings for their homes, the themes began to change to ones reflecting a family's honor and personal symbols: lions representing courage and honor, peacocks for pride, unicorns for purity, family crests, and so forth. The number of tapestries hanging in a castle or manor represented wealth, power, and prestige, and they also served as faux doors and as insulation.

Landscapes

Many of the surviving tapestries date to the 18th century and their themes often reflect pleasant landscapes, men and women, animals, and the simple sweetness of country living. Artisans also began to experiment with more modern abstract floral designs.

Today, many homeowners choose to use reproductions of French tapestries as part of their decorating scheme, indicating that these elegant designs have stood the test of time and will remain popular for years to come.

FrenchTapestries.Com, LLC ( http://www.FrenchTapestries.com/ ) has been importing tapestries, wall decor, and art objects from France and Europe. Ryan Coisson is a freelance writer.

Value of a painting by Mary Bothwell?

I have floral oil painting signed by Mary Bothwell (b1900 - d mid-1970s) - famous canadian soprano became known also for her paintings of flowers...canvas is stretched and framed. Any suggestions?

A drawing by Mary Boswell sold at auction in 2007 for $470 US.

http://www.findartinfo.com/search/listprices.asp?keyword=289124&name=Rosemary_Bothwell

A painting by her should be worth a lot more.
For a current valuation you should have this picture appraised by a fine-art auctioneer.