SFGate

PYRAMID DESIGN GROUP no

gossamerblade In the right room, it would be perfect. Maybe in a traditional dining room over a buffet or something.

Lizabeth I would not want to look at this in my home.

onthefence It doesn't matter if we like it. Do YOU like it?

eagledzines Downsized, with a red matting and smooth gold frame, yes.

Aja Mazin If it is an oil, do not mat.

Laura Murphy Clarkin I love it, id take it off you if you dont want it! Haha

Barbara Schaver @ Furnitureland South yes, and unless I had a small space where this would work perfectly, i would group it with a couple other pieces in similar frames. Also, for what it's worth, I picked up a small oil on canvas at a consignment store --- it was beautifully framed, and it spoke to me and it was very inexpensive... but it was dirty, so I took a chance and carefully wiped the canvas and frame with a mr.clean magic eraser. It worked wonders. Any art dealers listening and cringing??

eagledzines I was wondering the same thing Barbara It looks like it needs cleaning. The artist was using Impressionist style, yet it's lost in the darkness.

Madeline That was a stormy, cloudy day over the Place d'Madeleine in Paris. It's a sweet rendering even if the artist did take certain liberties with scale. I like it!

Aja Mazin YES!

[but please do not try to "clean" it.

Wow Great Place Oh, I would absolutely hang this! But I would update it with a new, more contemporary frame, and then put a mirror in the old vintage frame for a funky powder room mirror!

sweetnoor I would consider changing the frame.

If it is an oil, no mat is needed.

Clean the frame for future use, but do not attempt to "clean" the picture.

Gary Presto This reminds me of the framed picture that Rosemary gazed at while wielding her butchering knife and sneaking into the neighbors' apartment near the end of Rosemary's Baby, but sans the flames! No! ;o

tallgrassdesign Oil painting are not matted. I agree with earlier comments that you should not try to clean the painting with any sort of cleanser or solvent. If there is some dust build-up, you might try VERY GENTLY wiping it with a clean, dry cloth but nothing else.

If you really like the subject of the painting, investing in a more contemporary frame would give it a whole new look. I think it would be stunning in a dining room with dark, dramatic walls, such as SW Naval.

moenna Love the frame. I wouldn't change it. If the painting is very dirty and an original, then have a professional clean it. One who is renowned and known for the restoration and cleaning of old art. I think his name might have been Antonio de Vity and not Vito? If so, is owned four small paintings by this artist and loved them. I did sell them when I moved, only because I had no place to put them. But I love very large paintings such as yours and I'd definitely hang it in my house. And if it appears too dark, you can always hang a spotlight, over it.
Mo

studio10001 Muriel Brandolini would hang it in her house.

Aja Mazin studio10001

I doubt it.

Carolina Photo To Go LLC I would consult an expert before cleaning. When we were touring in Italy one of the tour guides said when she first studied art there, it was thought all the old paintings from centuries ago were actually painted that way until experts started cleaning them. Thats for sharing your find with us.

lefty47 HI -- Wow , do I remember these . Believe it or not some of the younger people are getting into these kind of pictures to go with the retro styles they are adopting now for their homes. If this is just a print on board you could clean it with just a damp soft cloth . Don't reframe it , it came with that frame and and it goes with the picture . If it is a real oil painting you can clean it . Just make a dough ball out of flour and water then just roll it gently across the painting doing small sections at a time. This should lift the dirt off with no damage . Check to see if there is any loose paint before you start .There is nothing you can do about the yellowing . It looks like it is an oil to me but hard to tell on the computer. These paintings were called sofa art like mentioned but not advertised as such . Better known as mall paintings or assembly line paintings . They were not done by a paticular artist but by several . Someone was good at doing trees and then the next person was good at something else and then someone at the end of the line was good at doing signatures using made up names . They sold these paintings with assorted subject matter , advertised as "Starving Artists Sale " You could have it checked out by an auction house or gallery just to put your mind at ease. But I think there is no value there, but for amusing.

studio10001 lefty47, thought you were going to tell hapnjo to drop it in oil and fry it.... And to answer the question, it is cool again -as kitsch- adorable conversation- starting kitsch.Enjoy it anyway you want to..

Coffs to Port Property Styling it might be worth a bit maybe you should have it valued - if it's worth something I would consider selling it, . Antonio De Vita is suppose to be a musician I believe. Good luck with it.

Aja Mazin Barbara Schaver @ Furnitureland South,

Yes, art dealers are marching en masse to speak with you!

LOL

Aja Mazin " cutting my losses" - ?????

,"unless you are hanging it in a mansion or castle." - ?????

leelee What are the dimensions of the piece? Is it a real oil or a print? If it's a real oil painting I'd change the frame to something a little less ornate. Does it need "cleaning"? What style is your furniture? It might look good over a buffet depending on it's size.

It's a Beautiful World! This painting would work well with eclectic or traditional style of decor. If that is not what you have, it may look out of place in your room. But, if you like it a lot, you may want to keep it and adjust the rest of your decor to complement it. As Joy suggested, appraisal can be a useful thing to do, especially if you are not keeping it and want to sell it. It looks like it does belong in this frame, not sure if a more contemporary frame would work well with this particular piece, perhaps, you should consult an experienced framer if you plan to reframe and keep it... Best of luck!... Raisa

studio10001 (Please pause, while the poster identifies, sells and celebrates....)

Aja Mazin studio10001,

Yeppers!

That would be my thought......

rnangel I would hang it in the right place with the right decor! It has to be your style or you have to like it somewhat to keep it. What size is it? That will make a difference on how you decorate, if small or large. Like some one said you may need to add something with it to fill the area you want to decorate. Research the picture and what may go with it and create a room or an area just for your SPECIAL PICTURE!!!! Good luck on your picture adventure. ;-). I am like the other Lady, I'll take it if you don't want it, that's my style......

traditionalguy467 Hi hapnjo!

Art is one of the most personal decisions in decorating a space. It gives the guest a glimpse into the host or hostess, as no other item in the room can. It is, and always should remain a subjective choice. Embrace your uniqueness. The only question that should be asked here, is whether or not you love the picture? If you do, it shouldn't matter if it was painted as a great work of art, or a picture your child painted for you on the kitchen counter. Some sort of feeling should be tangibly felt , when purchasing or viewing art. The price is immaterial. Enjoy!

Aja Mazin Thank you Susanna Artistea.

I am stunned.

ILLUMINATIONS LIGHTING If you do decide to hang it, please light it as well! I'm attaching a photo of lighting idea.

maureenroth eek. Go with your first instinct. There's a reason you asked if it was lame. Sorry.

studio10001 In my dreams, hapnjo finds out that his painting is a copy, and hangs it anyway. He starts to read, first about the original, then about the time frame, and then starts going to galleries and museums. He becomes so confident in his ability to frame an opinion that his financial resources grow correspondingly and he buys more art. Sometimes he hangs them upside down, but who cares? And he never worries about things that are "in" again, because repetition of a fad is still a fad and has nothing to do with why one keeps art. And everyone here googles De Viti and Brandolini and becomes smarter than they were yesterday. Nobody who owns a poster from michaels ever gives advice again on oil paintings; instead, we all eat something delicious for lunch and raise our glasses to painters everywhere , and especially to Susanna Artistea, and use our bile to digest our food, and we all live happily ever after. The End.

maryam28 Definitely! Its a beautiful art & if used right can give a room character& depth .. For example in a library with deep coloured walls or even in a contemporary space to take the cold feel out of space .. I can see so many places that it can be hanged wonderfully

maureenroth It's her house and she can hang anything she wants on her walls. Most of us don't hesitate to offer an opinion on furnishings or decor items we think won't do anything to enhance someone's home. That being said, we all have free will and can take these comments with a grain of salt. In North America, however, we have a rather limited experience with fine art appreciation. We also have somewhat conservative views historically of what good art is and isn't. We spend very little time studying and deciphering art and the more time we spend with good art, the more we learn, just as the more good literature we read, the more our knowledge and appreciation grows and the more literate we become. I think that hapnjo knows, at some level, the difference between something produced by a committee and a genuine effort at an artistic exploration.

Kiyohara Moffitt It needs to be professionally cleaned. That yellow tone throughout is from dust and age so it needs some restoring. The frame is what dates it. I would put a simpler frame on it so the focus is more on
the scene.

studio10001 Calm down, folks, I'll add exclamation marks next time so you can tell when I'm having fun. !!!!

Lizabeth Couple of thoughts OP asked our opinions, wants to know if we would hang in our home. Our opinions are simply that and were requested.

OIl Paintings are not matted but often are given a linen liner to offer a visual break between painting and frame. Very common practice, although sometimes a gold or silver fillet is placed inside the frame to offer the same visual break.

One does not have to own only all original art to give an opinion. One can have an art history background, deal art, sit on museums boards and own posters as well as original work in a variety of media.

There continues to be a lack of information and education about art in general. Th world of printmaking has been turned on it's head by changes in methods over the past 40 years. Signed and numbered reproductions of works that were done in other media have no artistic value but may have decorative value and bring joy to the owner.

studio10001 Mea culpa, Lizabeth, I should have said nobody will ever suggest that an oil painting be treated like a poster from Michaels. I will now go sit in a corner for confusing Michaels posters with numbered prints. Wait, was that me? I will hang my head anyway, and never ever bring levity to the board before cocktail hour!!

studio10001 Rough house, today; thanks Aja.

Lizabeth Studio 10001,

Thanks and my apolgies as well, and I expect you and I are are sitting on the same side of this table, hopefully with red wine or a martini at some point.

No you did not mention signed and numbered print.s That is my own pet peeve from my gallery days when these yahoos would come in wanting their duck prints treated like gold and then looking down their noses at MOMA posters.

That is all me.. Spent hours explaining that a print of a watercolor was not "fine art". till I just stopped talking about it. I should have lived before mechanicall lithograghy and four color printers and giclee prints.

Patricia Pelgrims Here is my 2 cent worth. Would I hang it in my house ? Yes, if it were an original. Frame and all.
I prefer original art, even from the most obscure unknown artists, something that I would pick up for next to nothing from a flee market.
The art in question here would only work in a Bohemian style interior, a shabby chique one or a very modern one.
Hang it in a traditional interior and it will look twee.

shelleyuk Definitely wouldn't hang it in my house. I think it would need a modern setting to avoid being twee

Lizabeth AJa,

My original reference was to duck prints which were painted in one media and then photographed and reproduced and then signed by artist's hand. The prints were not produced by the artists.

Are they collectible? Yes indeed. Do they go up in value? Sometimes..

As for giclee prints I wlll post this

“An engraving or a lithograph was usually designed to be an engraving or a lithograph, even if based on a painting. Every stage in its creation demands the personal skill, work, and involvement of a human being. Even a print of a photograph was intended from the instant of exposure to be the print of a photograph.”

“A giclee starts out as a photograph of another artwork; that photograph is designed to be as mechanical a copy as possible. Some more machines, a computer and a printer, then turn it into a giclee. The machines can be run by the artist or not; what difference does it make? The artist can then sign and number it, but this has nothing to do with art; it's purely a question of marketing.”

I think the author hit the nail on the head. It is the hand of the original artist and the art process itself that is part of the value I find in the artwork."

This expresses my opinion however it is off topic.

If you enjoy owning giclees great go ahead. Anything can be traded and both up and down in value. Remember the great rise in Tulip values in 16th c Amsterdam?

Interiors International, Inc. No, but it doesn't speak to me at all. It just isn't my style. It could be painted by Rembrandt and I would sell it to buy a great work by a contemporary artist. If you love it then hang it.

studio10001 No worries, Lizabeth!
Madeline - You mistake me completely-moreover, I am appreciative that of all the folks who have said they would hang this, you are the only poster to say what you found appealing about the work itself, as opposed to decor and cleaning suggestions. Hapnjo might find that a useful approach, indeed, should he ever visit his thread. Don't allow my good mood to ruin yours, in event!

maryryder Sorry, lame for my style. However, I have never taken an art appreciation course.

studio10001 Oh, look - time for cocktails, everyone!!!!

sweetnoor studio10001

maureenroth Making a cosmo right now

vacox I'm supposed to be on a diet and you are making be crave booze big time. Here's my beloved tiger painting that I got on eBay for $10. I love it so much! I think it is painted so well, I wouldn't be surprised if it were worth something. But, cannot find out anything. Martini.... do I dare? Oh, OP: I agree that if you like it, hang it, if you don't, find some one who will appreciate it; I personally like it. :-)

The Color People sorry but the picture falls on the lame side but as has been so well stated above if you love it - hang it.
Your life is not about what other people think.

Coffs to Port Property Styling The tiger looks lovely vacox but be careful lions, tigers etc are suppose to be bad feng shui in your home.

vacox @Joy.... Really?? Uh oh. In the same room with my little tiger painting and that 50s ceramic tiger is my huge Indian fabric painting of Durga on a Tiger. No wonder my decorating is so bad.... But he really is lovely, isn't he? I feel his power...

Coffs to Port Property Styling well with Feng Shui if you have a good feeling about something it can totally wipe out any bad feng shui so all good for you vacox, he is lovely and if he isn't growling or showing his teeth it is even better (I can't really see his face in this pic)

Marie Hebson's interiorsBYDESIGN Inc. I'd find a special spot for it - love the frame - not that big of a fan about the subject matter, but I do love the look of it - paired with something new can be quite deliscious - notice how various types of artwork are paired with a credenza or could be a dresser in the foyer - have the painting sitting behind a lamp, or other pictures. Layered look is really very lovely - good luck

pattiegoode I'd take it out of the frame and hag just the canvas. But that's what I like!

vacox Joy, he looks pretty serene to me. I looked up my feng shui signs and the Tiger is my zodiac and Water is my element.... [twilight zone music here...] Here's a closeup and I'll stop hijacking this thread--although OP hasn't been back it seems.

soberg I'm really questioning whether the thread-subject painting is by Antonio de Vito, who graduated from art school in 1970 and appears to have worked exclusively on frescoes in Italy since that time. His style and subject matter are straight Renaissance and Leonardoesque. So it is most unlikely that he would produce an oil painting of a Paris street scene, especially in that sentimental and borderline schlocky style. http://www.devitoantonio.it/en/home.html

studio10001 Dirty De Vity vs. chinese rip-off is the question. And if it really says Vita, as the poster wrote, the question has been answered!

Aja Mazin However, the owner lists the artist's name as Antonio De Vita - Not De Vity or De Vito.

I conducted a google search when first posted for Antonio De Vita and "sofa art" with no success.

I have been befuddled ever since, as I would assume the owner would have given us the correct spelling.

[Antonio De Vita is a musician with a facebook account]

hmmmmm...

studio10001 That's so -I'm suggesting that a faker might have spelled it wrong.

studio10001 Speaking of googling artists , I got interested in Caroline Young yesterday, do you know if MOP and goldleaf are routinely used on those pieces?

maureenroth An interesting article:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/china-s-art-factories-van-gogh-from-the-sweatshop-a-433134.html
I say, at the risk of re-igniting this debate, buy a piece from a struggling new artist, an art student, something from a friend or even get a poster of a famous piece that you like if you are on a budget. At least the artist may get some royalties. This mass produced stuff is a big money grab and exploits workers in other countries. Art has little to do with it. OK, speech over. I got it out of my system ;-)

Aja Mazin maureenroth,

History repeating, sadly.

I have a few pieces[inherited] of the most fine embroidery on silk from China - the Blind Stitch, which has been criminalized,

Young girls were forced to work 18 hours a day in dimly lit sweat shops to embroider in the smallest of stitches intricate works for use on clothes, pillows,artwork, etc. for the Mandarin and for export.

I refuse to touch an Apple product.

Apple has installed nets on their crowded buildings that house Apple workers to try to reduce the number of deaths by suicide.

The windows must remain open for ventilation, so the nets are to catch the "jumpers".

American greed......

studio10001 MOP? that's what I said!! But I was reading that was one of the materials ground into the paint. Thought I'd ask, as you had one of her glicees. I looked through a bunch yesterday- I like her composition-even the squirrels(are you rolling your eyes?!)-and one of these"authorized(my Aunt Fanny) dealers" mentioned gold leaf on the prints. Any evidence on the one you own?
Susanna- I've concluded that the clothing designer,after a trying week, was trying to give the audience the fish-eye!!

studio10001 The nets are one of the kinder implementations,sadly. People are starting to respond with more "made in america, though" - not because they commiserate, I suspect, but its something, none the less.

maureenroth Aja,we always want the nicest things at the lowest price but we often forget the real human cost.

studio10001 Lovely stuff. Thanks for verifying. I'm off to drool at Miami Asian Art auction. (OK gang, show us your painting finds; you know you want to, and hapnjo is getting a run for his money here. We got Young, and tigers, and bears, oh my!)

Aja Mazin studio10001,

"Set Them Free" by Sting addresses our warped society of consumerism, to the surprise of many.

"Forever conditioned to believe that we can't live
We can't live here and be happy with less
So many riches, so many souls
Everything we see we want to possess"

We are conditioned from birth to want what we don't need.

And

"If you want to keep something precious
You got to lock it up and throw away the key.
If you want to hold onto your possession
Don't even think about me

If you love somebody, set them free."

Throw open the doors to the sweatshops where our greed has made it acceptable
to imprison impoverished workers.

Coffs to Port Property Styling yes vacox he looks very serene - you are safe :)

Aja Mazin .

studio10001 I'm docked. (Was hoping to find a Houzzer art show when I checked back! ah well.)

Madeline @studio10001. For what it's worth at this point I don't believe I took a "cheap shot" at you because I addressed you directly with my comment. I also did not mean that you alone were responsible for the snark. But I cannot help but feel for the poster being the butt of jokes by all of these art history/design stars on Houzz. I kept my comments to a minimum because I could tell it was not an oil painting and the poster probably had it right at least by calling it sofa art.

Patricia Pelgrims @Aja, Even in the UK a mansion is a large stately house.
Anyhow, I would be very tempted to hang such a painting if it were original and if I had the space. At this moment I have enough artworks on my walls so I am not accepting any more gifts ;)
Question now is would I hang the tiger ? Not on yer nelly ! Not now, not ever.

Aja Mazin ★★★★★★Susanna Artistea★★★★★★
Art Historian and Designer Extraordinaire

perfick Hang it in the lavatory, that way you'll see it a few times a day... ;) See if it grows on you, or whether you keep having the urge to remove it. You can then decide whether to keep it, move it, or sell it. Or give it to someone else who won't know what to do with it...

Aja Mazin The Orsay Museum is having a clearance sale.
This was painted by a toll collector in France.
I like it, but what is it?

Aja Mazin Susanna Artistea,

We have a winner!

Please pick up your prize!!

Patricia Pelgrims Now, where could we hang both of these ?

Patricia Pelgrims That's cool ! Was just going to suggest to hang them in next door neighbour's house. ;)

chateaustmichel hapnjo, to see a Parisian street scene painting with vintage-style frame included in a gorgeous design, see p. 150-151 in Jan Showers' book, Glamorous Rooms. And there are many examples of gallery walls in homes with multiple works of a variety of subjects, styles and media - that "work" or at least get published in respected art and design periodicals. You decide.

studio10001 Good morning/afternoon my fellow artsy-fartsies and down-under insomniacs!!!! Aja, thank, the lord - the Ornay is my Aunt Joelle, whom we lost track of some years ago. A loose but likeable woman, her last missive from Cat Key mentioned a new lover, whom she referred to as Spoonin Bill, and signed off with "We really have the cats by their tails, now!" All is at last made clear, and she has obviously moved to the other side of the island. What a relief !

studio10001 The thing so enjoyable about this sight,for me, is how expansive our knowledge base is, when put together .I've learned a great deal from this thread in particular,as it has blossomed from support of a newbie painting owner to a discussion of what qualifies as art, the worth of art, printmaking techniqes,chinese art factories and when to be afraid of your art(when it has teeth, of course!). That I should wish the same experience for others-and the uncertain poster, especially - is no mockery. While everyone may not come to this sight wishing to expand their thinking,certainly we can agree, Madeline, that there is little point in nullifying those of us who do. If the topic seems cloudy, folks are happy to clarify I've found ( to whit: socks? Do I want to know, or have I happily missed a new can of worms?). If a post appears seemingly irrelevant, ignore it or reintroduce a new focus. I invite you to join the fun and upload a few favs. of your own!

studio10001 I wish to expand on the topic of needlepoint art (!) by confessing I have a very huge thing for needlepoint nudes. They make me unbelievably happy, and I stalk them online. What could be less sexual and more comically delightful than lady lumps in scratchy persian wool? Who are the ladies buying the kits???? I own none, but I crave them terribly. Terribly being the operative (Hey, that was your line?)

Aja Mazin studio10001,

I respect your honesty and courage in coming forward to speak out.

studio10001 That is kind, Aja, thank you-and the board,as well, for support this morning. I slept through the excitement, to my chagrin,and am gleaning the magic wand was at work again in my absence. Right. Forward we go,eh?

Aja Mazin studio10001

And we each have our own magic wand available to use wisely!

dhkendrick I would definitely hang it. I love this oil painting.

dianedee Hey,I like the magic wand in the middle! But that is just me!

You guys ( you know who you are) ought to take your fight someplace else! A little fun is one thing but this is going too far.
HOUZZ is for ideas and help with design problems, not verbal cat fights. Play nice, please.
Thanks.

riverpam This is a very interesting thread! Going back to the poster's original question: I am reading into it that the poster likes the painting, but is worried she might embarrass herself by hanging it. I personally would never hang this painting in my house, but I might admire someone who hung it in her house, if the setting were dramatic or quirky enough to support it. To me it is kitsch, regardless of its monetary value. Would love to hear from the original poster again.

sweetnoor dianedee,

OK.
Let's address this..

This is not about a cat fight, but about someone who, using sock puppets, has viciously and repeatedly. attacked a Houzzer with ad hominems - arguments and insults appealing to emotion or prejudice that attack character rather than reason.

The source of these attacks is based on a presumption of the target's religion and race.

Neither has a place here on Houzz and we should have zero tolerance.

This person, who also comments on Huffington Post, has unfairly and repeatedly harassed another on a forum that should be devoid of bigotry while providing a non toxic atmosphere to comment.

However, this person has revealed her identity by referencing the lyrics of "Summertime", from Porgy and Bess, in her latest rant, which has since been deleted.

I have contacted the Houzz community director and a Houzz Sr. VP.

Houzz has raised $35 million from venture capital firms to hire more staff and expand into Europe and Australia.

If Houzz hopes to have a significant international presence and impact, any trace of racism or intolerance must be eliminated and diversity must be embraced.

B. A. Young

onthefence I visit HuffPo from time to time when I want to read about/discuss political issues. When I want to read about decorating and renovating, I read here.

If anyone has an issue with anyone else here, taking it to TPTB at Houzz would be what I think should be done. Duking it out in a public forum via snark and innuendo IMO has no place here.

To quote someone's mother "I don't care WHO started it. You're both going in a time out."

ETA: My spouse is a political junkie. The TV is always on and often tuned to a political program. Houzz has been a refuge for me and I'd be sad if it were to stop being so.

tobycatmom Maybe change the frame?

judyg Looks like a little French Cafe, and then you walk to the end of the street to the Greek Parliament building. Across the street? Figuring that out. And it is all facing West?

Save the frame.

dianedee Thank you sweetnoor.

dianedee Thank you on the fence

lionnessone Artist Antonio DeVity....... Did you receive papers of authenticity?
Never mind what others think, art is of personal preference, if you really love this piece, you will find the right place to hang it in your home, or mine. ;)

Madeline @judyg. The Greek Parliament Building is in actuality the Madeleine Church.

quatorze If you like it, then it's OK. As is, it is certainly cool, in a camp sort of way, but perhaps not something I would want to look at every day. If you are not sure, try taking it out of the elaborate frame and then deciding on the image's merits. Perhaps a plain, modern frame would give it a new lease on life. If it was on a wall loaded with pictures, it would settle in, even in the ornate frame, much better. If you do frame it more simply, have some mirror glass cut to fit the old frame and you will have a killer mirror.

Aja Mazin judyg and Madeline,

We can clearly understand why judyg would think Greek. Good eye!!

Here is a picture of the Madeleine Church.in Paris. .L'église de la Madeleine is a Roman Catholic church occupying a commanding position in the 8th arrondissement of Paris.

Please note it has 8 columns facing forward while the building depicted in the painting has only 6.

Also, I have included a side view.of the Madeleine Church.in Paris [2nd picture]

The 3rd picture is an enlarged view of the painting

The 4th picture shows the classic design of a Greek temple. Christian churches are known to have borrowed heavily from the classic Greek design .

Aja Mazin Let's try again:

The 3rd picture is an enlarged view of the painting

[Apparently, Antonio had a difficult time seeing Paris from his home in Italy.]

Madeline @judyg. I like to think that the little French cafe that you pointed out is the Cafe Madeleine that sits at the intersection of rue Tronchet and the Place de la Madeleine, one of my many favorite pit stops, even though like most well placed cafes it is over-the-top expensive and noisy. The nose full of exhaust fumes street-side came free of charge. But in the "painting" the cafe, which I don't recall as actually existing, is on the rue Royale just before it meets the Place at the front of the Madeleine, though no effort was made to represent the several lanes of traffic that go whizzing by the Church, which sits on a block of its own, making up its own sort of roundabout of traffic. It is an artist's rendering after all and why ruin the beauty of Paris streets with "motor cars." Obviously the "painting" evoked memories of Paris for me and when I made my comments that's in fact all they were based on. I would have never imagined a simple posting would have brought such an avalanche of comments. I did make an effort to attach the images of the real Madeleine but I'm afraid I have not yet mastered that art of Houzz.

kaliboyred1 Yes. I would gold leaf the frame though first.