Q & A

J. E. of Mississagua , Ontario writes:

I acquired this painting about 30 years ago from the Salvation Army in Toronto. It had been donated to them as part of an estate that was located in Toronto. The painting is convex, and painted on some sort of plaster, not canvas. I cannot find a signature, although I have not taken it out of the frame. The frame was on the painting when I obtained it and the painting appears to be in oil. I am curious as to why it was painted on "plaster", and if you can tell where it was painted, plus the age.

We asked Odon Wagner to respond:

I now had a chance to view your painting on plaster. Let me mention that it would have been interesting to know what the diameter of the work is. I assume it to be somewhat larger than a plate size, let us say 12” +; is that correct? It also would be interesting to know whether the plaster of Paris is in fact plaster of Paris (scratchable by your fingernail) or a bisque, a baked material, which much harder and certainly not scratchable by your fingernail. If it is the latter in would indicate a “production” of the plate (platter), if it is a plaster of Paris in fact, it indicates a “home made” origin of the plate. I would suggest that the latter origin is the case, since the painting does appear to be by an amateur and not by an artist employed to illustrate the aforementioned production of plates, by painting them in oil.

You might ask yourself and me why I can state that the author may be an amateur. Well, details of the scene indicate a certain awkwardness, such as the depiction of the mountain range to the right top, the row of peaks undulating to the right of the left most peak is odd, the trees (or forest) is painting with a certain lack of skill… just to name a few indicators. However, please do not get discouraged by owning a plate on plaster, painted by an amateurish painter, it may not have great value (possibly 100-200 dollars) but it may be of future sentimental value, when it is handed down to the next generation(s). Incidentally, such a plaster of Paris plate can be easily moulded (= cast) over another convex form – hence, maybe, the choice of this particular material by the “craftsman-painter”.