Up for sale is a phenomenal and rare antique French oil painting depicting an outdoor French circus. Executed in oil on paper laid to wood panel this work is special due to the obscure and fun subject matter. A large hot air balloon fills the majority of the top half of the composition with a man on horseback being lifted off the ground by ropes just below. A cheering crowd of people sit in raised stands in the back right and around the fence circling the act with a multi color circus tent in the far left background. French flags decorate all poles and even the horse rider has one in hand waving. The Ringling Brothers Circus had an adaptation of this act called "The Balloon Horse, Jupiter" of which a google search will pull up an advertising poster.

This work is dated 1850 and signed "F. Guillet" as seen in the lower right corner measuring 7 x 11.75 inches while the period burl wood frame measures 11.5 x 16 inches. The balloon is decorated with what appears to be a couple fish, cherub, two animals and the scales of justice. I love all the small but unique figures from small children pointing in awe to well dressed men wearing top hats and women in beautifully colored dresses and even a little dog in the low right corner. A competent hand painted this with great brushwork and use of color which is now dimmed by 170 years of surface dirt / grime. A good cleaning would greatly brighten up the painting and bring it to its fullest aesthetic beauty. The condition is good but there is a small spot of loss just under the second to farthest right French flag and some craquelure present on the lower edge. The images provided accurately represent the quality, condition and aesthetic beauty of this stunning mid 19th century oil painting but if you have any questions please feel free to ask prior to purchasing!