A Mid-19thC Victorian Period Floral Still Life Velvet Painting c.1850

Origin: English
Period: Early Victorian
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1850
Height: 27.5”
Width: 23”
Depth: 0.75”

The early Victorian floral still life depicting a myriad of flowers and foliage in wondrous colours, painted on velvet and sometimes coined as theorem, with two butterflies and a birds nest laden with eggs, the flowers within a fluted vase atop a ledge and held within a period burr maple frame surviving from the late nineteenth century in untouched condition.

There are some dark areas as velvet theorem’s are prone to develop, but overall the colours are very good and there are no restorations. There is one L-shaped puncture which is not overly districting from the whole. The good quality frame is original. The signature bottom right is indecipherable.

Theorem stencil, sometimes also called theorem painting or velvet painting, is the art of making stencils and using them to make drawings or paintings on fabric or paper. A vogue for theorem stencil painting began in England at the turn of the 18th century and through the mid-1800s. The art was first taught to women in academies and boarding schools.

The designs are traditionally painted on velvet and the work is then framed or matted. The stencils are multiple overlays and designs are always three-dimensional, primitive and stylised in nature. The resulting design is bridgeless—there are no gaps in between the overlays. Subjects often included foods, scenes, and symbols that were popular in the artist's area.

Of a good size and in original order this is a charming piece of early Victorian folk art.