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19th century British School19th century British Folk Art, Singers singing about Napoleon in a landscapecirca 1820
circa 1820
$6,950
£5,328.06
€6,096.80
CA$9,821.92
A$10,676.03
CHF 5,715.05
MX$129,048.50
NOK 72,020.80
SEK 66,421.88
DKK 45,533.32
About the Item
Anonymous (English School)
The Ballad Singers, ca. 1820
Oil on canvas
Lively, theatrical, and brimming with charm, The Ballad Singers is a rare surviving example of early 19th-century English folk art that captures a slice of popular culture in vivid detail. The painting presents a group of itinerant street performers—two women, two men, and a fiddler—caught mid-song, performing verses likely recounting tales of war, loss, and resilience. The lyrics, painted directly onto the canvas above the central figures, reference the Napoleonic Wars, a subject that deeply permeated public consciousness in post-war Britain.
Painted around 1820, this piece belongs to a long tradition of visual storytelling through ballads, a form of popular entertainment that was equal parts news, music, and social commentary. These scenes were meant to be both didactic and entertaining, often serving as the only access to national events for the working class. The figures are rendered with a naïve, direct style typical of English folk art—more concerned with character and emotion than anatomical perfection.
Note the expressive faces, stylized gestures, and the poignant detail of the fiddler’s peg leg—perhaps a wounded veteran turned street musician. The handmade charm of the work is accentuated by its original pine frame, which enhances the rustic authenticity of the piece.
This painting is not only a window into the popular traditions of the early 19th century but also a powerful reminder of the ways in which art, music, and memory coalesced in the wake of one of Europe’s most defining conflicts.
- Creator:19th century British School
- Creation Year:circa 1820
- Dimensions:Height: 32 in (81.28 cm)Width: 48 in (121.92 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement Style:
- Period:
- Condition:The painting was restored about 25 years ago. The frame is the original.
- Gallery Location:Woodbury, CT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU507316161062
About the Seller
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