Expert: Jeni Andrews-Fraser - 2/7/2008

Question
ive just found a painting framed in brass,it could have been a fire screen in the past .the painting is by a fireplace with a woman lighting a pipe for a man sitting down and is signed f.m. bennett .its behind some glass and i cant see if its a print or an oil painting.it looks to dull to be a print.ive checked this guy out and i cant seem to find the name of it to see if its worth something or not.do u have any answers for me please.the only way i can get it out is if i ruin the brass frame or even crack the glass.it would be nice to find out the name so i could further my inquires.. thank you

Answer
Hello Wil - and thank you for your question.  I sugget you take your fire screen to a local fine art dealer for authentication.  I can't say whether or not what you have got is a Bennet - I cannot see the picture - but perhaps the following information may help:

Frank Moss Bennett was a London painter of portraits, genre and historical subjects in both oil and watercolour as well as being an illustrator.

Bennett was born in Liverpool and studied at St. John’s Wood School of Art, The Slade School of Art and at the Royal Academy Schools of Art where he won a gold medal and a travelling scholarship.

He exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1898 and 1928, titles included “A Book Plate” in 1898, “The Greek Runner Falling Dead as he goes to Receive his Crown at Olympia” 1900 and “Gay Birds” in 1903. Bennett also exhibited at the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour and at the Paris Salon.

Bennett was best known for his Elizabethan subjects, many of which became well known through calendars and other forms of popular reproduction.

There is a market for his works - but, again, you need to contact a local fine art dealer (specifically one dealing in 19th century or Victorian narrative painting.)  There are plenty of links on the internet to his art and his biography.

Good luck