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Need Help Identifying an Artist from his Signature
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Message
Posted
New member here.
I bought 3 paintings a year ago and I am still stumped on the identity of the artist.
Bought at an Asset Repossession Auction in the UK and these were the only paintings but all the other items were very high end Jewellry, Rolex watches, luxury cars, etc. I took a chance on them as they were so impressive and I also got them at a reasonable price.
The landscape oriented painting is titled 'Mary Magdelene washing the feet of Jesus', a modern impression of this famous image.
Original paintings on wood - 48 inches by 31.5 inches.
Here are the pictures of the paintings, the close up of the signature on all 3 paintings (Captital B, small a - not sure if surename or initials or something else), a pic of the back and a close up of a reference on one of the paintings on the back frame.
Any help would be greatly appreciated and comments welcome on the paintings also.
Liam.
Edited
by Liam Corbett
Posted
There's something familiar here, which I can't yet place - very frustrating. The reference on the back looks like an auctioneer's mark, though it could be almost anything: doubt if it'll help to identify the paintings. There is something 'off' about them, in various ways - the drawing is presumably not meant to be especially accurate, but rather stylized: however - it certainly ISN'T very accurate. And it's a long time since I've read the Bible, but that's a very particular take on Mary Magdalen - unhistorical doesn't come close: I wonder who assigned the title, because were it not for that I'd assume it was a fetish painting.
I'm waffling, and being as useful as a rubber ladder! Trying to dredge from the basement of my memory what it is that's familiar about these pictures, and so far failing. If something clicks, I'll be back!
Posted
Can find nothing - think Alan's right: we'll not find an answer. That signature though - I KNOW I've seen it before: snag is, I have less than no idea of WHERE I've seen it before........ but if the auctioneers from whom you bought the painting couldn't tell you, it's quite possible that another auction house, specializing in artworks, might be able to. If I've seen that signature, someone else must also have seen it - a specialist auction house is your best bet.
Posted
Hi Robert, Thanks for your reply and, most definitely, it's a graphic and almost pornograpic depiction of Mary Magdelene washing the feet of Jesus. Only because that title was on the back of the painting, I would never have realised it myself. But having now viewed other paintings online of the same subject, you can see some similarities but this painting is a very modern and controversial depiction of the subject and some or many may be offended but that's art. Regarding the signature, it's quite unique, so if it's in your memory somewhere, you must have seen it before and stored it away. It's not surprising that the Auction I bought it from could not identify the artist as it's an auction house that specialises in repossessions due to liquidations of companies or repossessions from criminals and rarely has art. Their job is just to sell the objects quickly on behalf of the State. I have attached other paintings of the same subject and the more traditional depection. If you ever remember the signature, please enlighten me and, in the meantime, I will contact specialist Art Auction houses to see if they can solve the mystery of the Artist's identity.
