1st item: Manner of William Hogarth (England,1697-1764) oil on canvas satirical genre painting of an older noblewoman seated at a vanity and putting on makeup while her maid tends to her hair. The wall in the background is adorned with paintings of metaphorical themes of marriage. Partially legible inscriptions en verso make reference to Hogarth's "Rake's Progress," suggesting the lady is the wealthy elder noblewoman Tom Rakewell is preparing to wed so that he can secure financial wellbeing: "W. Hogarth, The old withered Sybil preparing for the wedding in Rake's Progress" … "To mark the progress of vice and to re__ his exhausted finances he marries an old & withered Sybil at the sight of whom nature must recoil. Gold can couple youth with heavy age and make…". Housed in an ornately carved giltwood frame. Unsigned. Sight: 13 1/4" H x 11 1/8" W Frame: 21 1/2" H x 19 1/4" W. 2nd item: Small European School oil on canvas satirical genre scene painting depicting a man, possibly a teacher, in a crowd of children who are distracted by various activities like reading a book, fighting, or playing pranks. Late 18th/early 19th century. Unsigned. Red wax collector seal with coat of arms and crown stamped stretcher, en verso. Housed in a molded giltwood frame with gesso. Sight: 8" H x 10 1/8" W. Framed:15 1/4" H x 17 1/2" W.

PROVENANCE: Private Nashville, Tennessee estate.

CONDITION: 1st item: Overall heavy craquelure and inpainting visible under UV light inspection to area above the woman's head and in the upper-middle margin of the painting, both approximately 1". 2nd item: Overall craquelure and light inpainting throughout the work, especially surrounding the central subject matter, visible under UV light inspection. Painting has been relined.