An oil on canvas folk art portrait of an unknown sitter in full black attire, indicating a widow in mourning. Her hand resting on a book, and he is using her fingers to save her page. The portrait’s style, the lady’s clothing, and the type of jewelry all suggest a period of late 1800s.
As was common with provincial  portraits, the artist is unknown as they were usually painted by itinerate and transient artists moving from one town to the next. Nonetheless, the painting demostrates competency and the work is naive yet charming. Condition issues.
24" x 17"