This is a really old painting. I purchased it at an estate auction. The frame is damaged and some pieces missing. It will need to be reframed and or repair. I could not find the artist name. Judging by the frame and what looks like a match box gun carried by the soldier sitting on the ground its from the early 18th century. I dont think this painting has ever been cleaned or reframed. The canvas cloth is stiff, while the old old frame has the original corners reinforced with metal plates.
The soldier sitting on the ground has what looks like an amunition pouch with the initials CM. His back pack his what looks like either a crown or the Number 1, over the number 42. May be the from the Royal Highlands Regiment, Black Watch,but I dont know for sure. I have done considerable research and several emails concerning this painting. I would like to add that the Red Hackle on the soliders bonnet was approved in 1795, and in 1789, instead of a black leater belt for the bayonet, a white buff was substituted, and the epaulettes were enlarged. The name Black watch was approved in 1861. In addition, the pleasts are rounded on any of the Royal Highlanders while others are flat pleats.
As you can see from the photo, this painting measures approx 28 x 23 1/2 inch's and depicts a horse drawn cart, with a traveling peasant family, along with all its belongings, stopping off at an inn or pub for food and refreshments. Its difficult to visualize all the details but there is also a small pony, a dog, another soldier on the left, talking to a women with a child in her hands, and most interesting is the sign on the building. It reads in part
lst line: Unreadable, (E---RRE), 2nd line: looks like ??? Horse & Men, 3rd Line: By Howe. 4th Line: Innkeeper.
Also on the back is an old sticker, so old that it has fallen off and broken into several small parts, with some pieces missing, I can decifer line one as being ___rker, Depository, 2nd Line??????, Kensington, 3rd line __RS< ALLEN.
On May-24-07 at 16:46:09 PDT, seller added the following information:
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