Unknown artist/artwork

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Hang on Studio Wall
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Hi all, I have this old painting that I inherited, but I can't decode the artist nor I know the painting.  Thanks in advance.
Milos  it would be better to present your painting correctly.    My suggestion is to rake it to one of the art auction houses.   Easily done on line.   
Any idea yourself of the name - even a wild stab?  It might be Schaller, or Schollter - and then again, it might not.  It's a very stiff painting; doubtless has a meaning, though I've no idea what that meaning is.  
I've drawn a blank on the name of the artist - though I've only looked at German artists so far, as I have a feeling it is a work from the German speaking parts of the world - which extends through Germany Austria-Hungary, Bohemia and beyond; it looks very smooth, so I'm hoping it's a painting and not a print.  The colour looks to have faded, either way.  As for the date - the hair style and dress could be anything from 1815 to 1850, probably nearer the later date. And I'm afraid, that's about as good as any researches from me are likely to get.  I've said before it's very stiff - that might have much to do with those constricting dresses, or rather the corsetry beneath them, but I suspect we're looking at the work of a talented amateur, or second-rate artist.   I suppose the reverse of the painting offers no clues?  Like dealer's marks, dates, whether it's on canvas or board.  
Impossible to say if it’s a print or an original without having it to hand… I suspect that it is an original work, painted thinly, very thinly in fact. Almost certainly by an amateur hand, the figures are very ‘wooden’ looking in my opinion and somewhat flat. Perhaps that’s down to the rather unnatural poses. I’m sure there are some redeeming qualities, I’m just not seeing them from the rather poor quality photograph that we have to work from! As always, that’s my opinion based on what I can see on a screen, I may have totally different opinions about it if I saw it in the flesh!
Thank you all very much. The back of the painting provides nothing and I really don't know the name of the painting. I will try to further investigate it by sending it to some auction houses online. I have this one, at least I know here the artist - Francois Villeret. 50x25. I see that some of his paintings were sold for a good price. Can you maybe give me an opinion on this one ?
A much more attractive painting, in need of a clean and probably re-varnishing.  I'll seek further information tomorrow, today has been a busy one and early sleep is required!
His dates were 1800 to 1866, and I think this painting has some value. A conservator could remove the dirty varnish, and that would be well worth doing.  I like it as it is, but I suspect the colours would be a great deal more vibrant if it were cleaned: but cleaned by someone who really knows what they're doing - the varnish is probably a dammar or mastic, removing it not a job for the well-meaning amateur. 
Thank you very much, sir, for your time and work. I will contact some auction houses in Europe since I am from Serbia. Do you or anybody recognize this signature ? I have several of these foreign paintings. I am sorry for providing bad pictures, later this day I will provide better ones. It looks like Sluiter, but the "H" is the problem, since I found Willy Sluiter, dutch painter.
I've found the same man as you, Jan Willem "Willy" Sluiter.  I wondered if it might be another member of his family, but his father was a minister, also named Jan Willem, and I can find no record of a son of Willy - which doesn't mean there wasn't one. This isn't a typical Sluiter painting, either... I think a little more detective work is called for.  

Edited
by Robert Jones, NAPA

I have had to give up, I'm afraid.  I can find lots of Sluiters, Slujters, and other variations = but none in the combination required, and very few of them were artists, apart from our friend Willy.  I don't believe this is a great painting, either - just competent.  Its author was probably not well-known, and if the painting has any financial value, it will be as an objet d'art rather than a distinguished painting. 

Edited
by Suzette Percival

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