Attributed to U.M. Samaran (French, 19th century), oil on canvas painting of an art exhibition; an elderly man views a painting on an easel as presented to him by a younger man while three fashionably dressed women are behind them, also viewing art, with a folding painted screen partially visible at the right side of the painting. Illegibly signed lower right:" __ M S-----." Hardy Alan backstamp to canvas, en verso. At lower left and lower right corners are the remnants of 2 old paper labels. The late owner's photographs of the painting contain a photograph of the left side label, upper portion of writing obscured by darkening, lower section reading "Expose au Salon de 1893". The 1893 exhibit catalog for the Paris Salon lists a painting numbered #1578 by U.M. Samaran, "Consultation; l'expert voudrait pourtant etre amiable / dans la galerie d'apollon --Musee du Louvre". The sketch associated with that title on page 239 of the Paris 1893 Salon catalog shows similar components from this painting: elderly man beside a similar chair, folding screen, woman in fashionable hat, but in a different arrangement. Housed in a 6" wide period giltwood frame with egg and dart and anthemian moldings. Sight: 47" x 34". Framed: 45 1/2" x 59". Provenance: The Estate of Mrs. Frank Wood, Evansville, Indiana and Dickson, Tennessee. (Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.caseantiques.com.)

Cracquelure throughout. Alligatoring to back of chair near older man's hand. Repaired tears upper right, 1 1/2" L and 1/2"L, background. 1" repaired tear lower right, about 4" above signature. Scattered small flakes and inclusions throughout, including an area of flaking upper left, along frame edge. Light grime. Frame regilt with scattered small losses.