John Russell Painting Appraisal

Signed and Dated Artwork Detail (John Russell, 1961)

This image provides a close-up detail of a work on paper, specifically highlighting the artist's signature and date located in the margin or along the edge. The artwork features a handwritten signature in graphite pencil that appears to read 'John Russell' followed by the geographical designation 'Nice' and the date '1961'. The substrate is a cream or off-white heavy art paper with a subtle texture consistent with sketchbook or medium-weight drawing paper. The paper exhibits some minor age-related toning and a slightly deckled or uneven edge where it meets the gold-toned frame. The frame itself appears to be a metallic or gilded wood material with a smooth, semi-gloss finish. The signature is rendered in a cursive script with moderate pressure, showing characteristic loop styles of the mid-20th century. While the full composition of the artwork is not visible, the presence of these markings suggests a mid-century piece of European origin or influence, given the reference to Nice, France. There are no major signs of foxing or water damage in this section, though the paper shows slight undulation, common for framed works on paper of this age.