English School, late-18th Century

In the tradition of Edward Collier (circa 1630-1708), this enticing trompe l'oeil portrays an eighteenth-century letter rack. Depicted fastened to a wall are papers and bound materials, including Colley Cibber's play Love Makes a Man; or, the Fop's Fortune, a comedy published in London in 1791. As in works by Collier, a clue to the identity of the artist may lie in the initials on the envelope at upper right. This painting comes from the collection of celebrated dealer and collector Gep Durenberger, well known as proprieter of an influential antiques shop and instructor of popular decorative arts seminars held in San Juan Capistrano, California.