The Painter’s Album

antique miniature provencal watercolors

 

 

In a black album with gold lettering, a group of miniature water colors.

At the brocantes there are plenty of boxes to look through with bundles of lace to untie, books dating back to the 1700s, dishes stacked, odd bits tucked inside for safe keeping, and pieces that have been passed down over the years. Those boxes overflow with abundance of history, charm and mystery.

In a box there was an album, opening it I found these miniature watercolors, someone's artist journal of their journey along the country's coast.

 

 "Ponza is the largest island of the Italian Pontine Islands archipelago, located 33 km south of Cape Circeo in the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is also the name of the commune of the island, a part of the province of Latina in the Lazio region."

 

 

 

antique miniature watercolors

 

 

 

I have taken a few photos to share. The color palette is true to the same tones throughout:

Brown, blues, pale green, hints of pink… 

 

 

 

antique miniature watercolors

 

 

Playing a song at sunset.

If you click on the images they will enlarge.

 

 

 

antique miniature watercolors

 

 

Gathering water at the well.

 

 

 

 

antique miniature watercolors

 

 

 

antique miniature watercolors

 

 

Does this say Lover's de Lane?

Was the painter like me confusing English and French?

 

 

 

antique miniature watercolors

 

 

 

Sitting by the seaside, with a few dabs of paint, some paintbrushes and a seashell with water.

I use to think, "How did someone let this go? Why didn't this stay in the family." But as we know, life has a way of change courses. Some things get lost in the shuffle. I like to think I am saving these things, and sending them to a happy place outside of box.

Letting the story breath life.

 



Comments

24 responses to “The Painter’s Album”

  1. I love that their color palette stayed the same throughout. How beautiful! I hope someone will cherish them again.

  2. It says “Lever de lune” (moonrise). Even though they painted the moon as red or dark pink. Perhaps it actually looked like that. Sometimes a red moon does rise. <3 These are very charming works!

  3. Oh my gosh I just love these!!!!

  4. Shelley Noble

    Oh my stars! Those colors, mon Dieu!

  5. They are very sweet. I see a book with each of these on a page with a photo opposite of the spot it might have been painted. The mystery of the book could be ‘Who painted these and when?’
    If you want, I would help put together such a book. All I’d need is emailed photos of the paintings and translations of the writing to start.

  6. They are beautiful. My mother had a little book of sketches and watercolors from her very daring trip to Canada with her best friend, before she was married. I wonder what happened to it. She was so proud of both the trip and the book.

  7. Jean Zimmer

    I think the little water color sketch book is one of the most interesting and charming things you have found! Such beautiful little pictures, thanks for the peek in someone’s past.

  8. Jean Zimmer

    P.S. I meant to ask if you know what year the sketch book was done.

  9. Absolutely lovely! I would love to see a moonrise like that one.

  10. Lovely, beautifully captured memories …a special place for the painter, I am sure. What a treasure you have found.
    Kristin

  11. ravissante, chère Corey!
    tu as un dont pour trouver des splendide trésors!
    salutations parfumées d´autriche , Tina 😉

  12. Teddee Grace

    These are wonderful! What year do you think?

  13. 1800s

  14. Are you going to sell this book Corey?
    If so, I would be very interested. I have beev to Ponza several times. It is just outside Terracina, a lovely toen in Italy where some of our best friends have an apartment.

  15. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    Your fingertip in each picture showing how tiny the paintings are really told the story. Charming.

  16. Pretty moon! Thank you for translating xx

  17. Hi Lil
    I sold the paintings. But I can ask if you can use them.
    xxC

  18. I hope you find it. Then share it on your blog! I would enjoy seeing it xx

  19. I agree. Utterly charming.

  20. They sold this morning.

  21. I should have polished my nail! 😉

  22. Thanks. If the buyer of the paintings is willing to photograph the images and the writing nearby and send them to me via email, that would be great. I think they would make a sweet book. I’d need help with the translation of the French though. If the book is completed I would give credit to you and the new owner of the paintings, if they want.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *