Posted 12 years ago
antiquariu…
(136 items)
Here is one of a pair of unusual WWI images on silk. They are prints of paintings I think. This one is labelled " Generalissime Joffre Commandant en Chef Des Armees Alliees sur le Front Occidental". Gen. Joffre appears in full dress uniform in the centre of the picture. In each corner is a vignette representing a different aspect of the services - large artillary, airforce (a really neat old plane!), machine gun (showing really old hardware) and cavalry on horseback. The vignettes are in sepia while the general is in vivid colour. The colour is one of the most remarkable things about this pair of prints. Even after 100 years the colours are exceptionally vivid and the details crisp and clear. The frames are Edwardian pattern gesso and wood, and look like they were finished with bronze powder paint rather than gilded. The overall dimensions of the prints and frames are 22.5 inches square. This is a great WWI memento. Gen. Joffre was a French general known for ruthlessly dismissing more than 50 unsuccessful allied generals, army, corps and divisional commanders in 1914 and replacing them with more capable commanders, and then going on to regroup the allies and defeat the Germans that year at the first Battle of Marne.
I have just come across one of these prints on silk in my Dads house can anyone tell me the value of it please?