Lot 141: CAFÉ CHANTANT 1860'S PARIS PAINTING BY R.O. ANTHONY

A wonderful oil painting on thin wood panel depicting an interior scene of the legendary Café Chantant, Paris, France. Signed lower left; this appears to be the work of a 19th century American artist about whom little is known. 'Who's Who in American Art' suggests that R.O. Anthony (with a similar signature to the one on this piece) and a Ripley Anthony who exhibited at the Boston Art Club in 1900 may be one and the same. Measures 8 x 10 inches, currently displayed in a common Victorian walnut frame, measuring 12 x 14 inches.

An unfortunate split through the middle, apparently split into two pieces at one time, as there is glue residue visible in small margins on the image along the split, also visible from the back. A 1/4 x 1 inch area of inpainting just above the signature, and one unexplained touch on the other corner as well.