Belgian Landscape Masterpiece Eugene Verboeckhoven Oil Painting 28.5" Sheep 1839

Up for consideration is original Belgian Old Masters Bucolic Landscape Pastoral Oil Painting of Sheep Grazing by Eugene Verboeckhoven (1778-1881). The painting alone measures about 20 inches by 28.5 inches with overall dimensions being around 31 by 36 inches. The frame is deep heavy and mind you not in the greatest condition but nonetheless monumental and original. It is signed and dated for 1839 which is fairly early for the artist. There is a hand written paper label on the back which may be a title along with a " 1881 Succession Verboeckhoven"  red wax seal which means the piece was in the possession of the artist at time of his death in 1881 and his family estate put a wax seal showing that the painting was from his estate when the estate was dissolved in 1881. That means when he died everything in the artist's possession was stamped with an estate seal proving to the person being it as a guaratee of where the painting came from...Understand that an artist at times may have had a bunch of paintings that they loved and were personal...and which they did not wish to sell...hence on that same note that means that some pieces were not signed because the artist was not going to sell them anyways and he or she we deem a signature as unnecassary act of egoism...likewise other situations were the artist was still working on a piece or it was a minor study that was not going to be sold...other simplier explanations are pliable alos...one Being the hands of the original artist means 2 things either the artist loved the piece or he couldn't sell it. I chose the former it is exceptional...I have been on here for 25 years...my record stands for itself no fake feedbacks all were earned after carefully packaging and shipping out by hand day after day for 25  years this year. With about 12,000 items thats about 500 items a year...I personally offer a full money back guarantee...Verboeckhoven is the Old Master the Grand Master of Bucolic paintings he was the best...and shaped the World of Art. This is an important piece or work. If you need to buy from a major auction house then go ahead pay for it...plus buyers premium...but if you are unhappy with you purchase try and send it back you will need a lawyer...however with our policy accompanied with ebay you are clearly protected.  Verboeckhoven is highly sought after and his more significant works range from $20,000 to over $200,000 and are handled by the best auction houses in the world. Given the quality, size, date, estate seal. title, etc...we believe this to be a fair market value...the painting could stand a possible cleaning and some minor repair work however one must understand that the painting is over 180 years of age and historically significant. It came from the artist's estate...it is extremely early and as his later works tend to focus more on animals with little regard to the their natural habitat...or surroundings. Ih short it belongs in a Museum or to a collector who knows... Perhaps there was more of a demand for smaller works of just the animals...etc...In this setting the animals are just part of the overall composition. A painting of similar size and format was sold in 2008 as lot 231 dated as being 1826 in Christie's Amsterdam 1820's and 30's which in the end supports the notion of his development and style during that time.  Auction Date(s): 04/15/2008  (all lots)Auction: 19th Century European ArtBy: Christie's AmsterdamLot: 231    (+2 near size/price   Sales Price: $57,170  (€36,250)  (*Buyer fees included)Estimate: $39,425 - $55,200   (€25,000 - €35,000)Difference: 3% over estimatePrice/Sq. Inch: $141.60Size: 22.05" x 18.31"Year Created: 1826Signature: Signed Lower LeftMedium/Ground: Oil / Panel format sold for $57,170... I stopped sending paintings to the major auction houses several years ago...and decided to broker art myself.  At this price level I sell only a few painting a year here and there. Which is ok. Ebay has a terrific policy for returns and I would say that an educated collector probably has more protection in some ways buying from ebay then some of the larger Auction services in North America. Try and send a painting back to Sotheby's after you paid...or Christie's...ummm let's just say good luck! Here on ebay they have institutionalized more or less policy that is better in many ways to other services...not all great stuff makes it to the major auction houses and sometimes even those institutions fumble the ball. Furthermore getting some of the world leading auction houses to even look at your stuff is a journey in futility...as they are bombarded with fake paintings and naive and overzealous low end works...so it is a miracle to get past the interns who work in the departments. Mind you even the interns may have a post they may or may not be awarded by skills  but political and Nepotistic forces ...so the old Wizard of Oz  Quote "Nobody sees the Wizard"  is alive and kicking even today. "We only invest with Bernie Mentality" Unless you have complete provenance or your last name is Verboeckhoven or if that an exact bill of sale from the last owners and or record of galleries who has owned it the major auction house or full provenance they are skeptical or they just don't care they want the low hanging fruit...You have to build a relationship with these institutions of which you have to know someone to get preferential treatment...I get contacted by reality TV shows all the time to bring in a painting etc...the truth is they want me to really sell them the pieces they are interested in live action footage no thanks...I don't really want to wholesale works as such anymore... So in summary after selling for years I have decided to sell things on my own with a full money back guarantee against as per ebay policy.      My record speaks for itself... I have been on here for 25 years and sell something almost everyday...and for the most part people are fairly happy with what they have purchased...all feedbacks given are of actual buyers over the last 25 years...and like any business of integrity we are only as good as our last sale. Thanks and if you have any questions or something to share ask away.        Eugene Verboeckhoven is deemed to be one of the foremost animal painters of the nineteenth century.  In Verboeckhoven's work animals often bear human characteristics and are reminiscent of bourgeois portraits of the time. In his book on Verboeckhoven, Berko writes "he could have been called the "Raphael of sheep", for his rams are so well drawn, arrogant and proud; his ewes surrounded by graceful lambs, look gentle and complacent as ewes do, and all his pastoral scenes are bathed in a warm, pleasing and golden light.  Eugene Verboeckhoven was a remarkable painter of horses, goats and game; he also painted small figures on foot or on horseback, playing scrupulous attention to detail; the gun, the powder flask, the hunter's gaiters, down to the picturesque hat, the threadbare overcoat, the shepherd's crook, and of course the last-born baby lamb under the shepherd's arm." Credit to Askart.      Provenance: purchased from a transplanted NYer here in Michigan who's parents collected artwork in the 1950's and onward...the mother was a Miss America Beauty Pageant contestant and a finalist in the 60's or 70's... Warmest Regards, Johnny JohnnyCrystal Est. 1987