antique portrait in the kitchen

Remember the portrait I found at the Lucketts Spring Market earlier this year?  The one I saw a couple of years ago at the fall market, thought about, wished I had bought it, and then came face to face with it again?  The woman in the blue dress with the dog on her lap?  Yep, this one…

Well, I realized I never photographed where I hung it in the house!  I used to share home updates, even small adjustments, almost the same day they happened.  Now, it’s two months later, and I finally got the camera out and took some pictures of it.

Last year, as I was thinning down my ironstone collection, I decided to take down the open shelves on this small wall in the kitchen eating area.  I enjoyed the shelves while they were there, but they started to feel a little crowded, so I took them down, and that wall has been blank for over a year.  I knew I wanted to hang a painting there and, while I’ve been tempted to keep and hang a few of my own there, I really wanted to find an antique painting.

As I was putting together my short mental shopping list for the Lucketts Spring Market, I actually thought, I want to buy a portrait, something like the one I saw a couple of years ago.  And then I had a second crack at it, which doesn’t often happen in the world of antique market shopping.  Usually, you miss out on a fabulous piece if you simply walk away to think about it.  I thought the size, colors, and subject would be perfect for that spot and they are.

The painting adds just enough visual interest, color, and personality to the wall without making that corner look too busy.

I really do love this painting.  I admire it every time I walk past it.  Sometimes, I lean in to look at the brushwork on the dog and the color variations in the background and dress, studying it a bit more, just as I would if I saw it in a museum.

The blues in the portrait are just right for my color palette, and the dark green background speaks beautifully to the dark green kitchen cabinets.

Of course, my favorite parts of the painting are the dog and the blue dress.  The dog’s expression makes me smile, and I’ve always loved drawing and painting clothing.  I’ve painted some shoes and done lots of sketches of dresses over the years, but I might try painting more clothes.  They can be a portrait in their own right, since clothing often speaks volumes about the person who wore the garment, the time period, etc.

Not only do I love the portrait, but I feel like I was meant to have it.  I don’t know anything about the woman, the artist who painted it, or where it came from, but it’s landed in a home where it is loved and appreciated.