American

This charming fireboard depicting a girl and her dog was discovered under a century and a half of accumulated soot. This New England fireboard kept drafts and vermin from coming down the chimeny of a fireplace when it was not in use. It is in perfect condition and only required a light cleaning. The Neo-Classical garden structure in the background is noteworthy. While the painter was clearly naive or itinerant, they were familiar with the European fashion of placing Green inspired garden "follies" in Arcadian landscapes, a reference to the fascinating discoveries made at Herculaneum and Pompeii by Winklemann which fueld the rage for Neo-Classicism in Europe and America. Fireboards are rare and collectible.