Masked Ball Scene Appraisal

Venetian Masquerade Scene (Lithograph/Etching)

This artwork depicts a whimsical and stylized scene set in Venice, Italy, featuring four figures in masquerade attire. The composition is set against the backdrop of the Venetian lagoon, with the unmistakable silhouette of Santa Maria della Salute in the background. The central figure is a woman in a purple dress and feathered skirt wearing a black eye mask, flanked by a musician holding a stringed instrument and a seated figure on a balustrade. A fourth figure is seated on the ground in the foreground, viewed from behind. The color palette is muted, utilizing soft browns, ochre, and pale purples, suggesting a 20th-century origins, likely between 1960 and 1980. The style is reminiscent of Post-Impressionist or mid-century whimsical illustration, characterized by elongated figures and delicate, sketch-like linework. The piece appears to be a multi-colored lithograph or hand-colored etching. There is a visible artist signature in the lower right-hand corner, though it is slightly obscured by the lighting/glare. The work is professionally matted with a thin peach-colored border and set in a simple wooden frame under glass. Condition-wise, the paper appears to have some slight age-toning, and there is a noticeable reflection on the glass surface in the photograph, but no major tears or foxing are immediately apparent within the frame.