Water Colour by Geo B Ayres dated 1864

This oval water colour has a gilt surround on the mount and is framed within an oval moulding which also has a gilt inner edge. The picture is signed “Geo B Ayres 1864” to the bottom right. On the reverse we can see the floral script “Aunt Marshall and Ayres” (presumably the subjects) to ELC, and the date Dec 25, 1863. This may be a leap of faith, but here is the history of Geo B Ayres – “George Bucher Ayres (1829-1905) was famous for having hand-painted photographs of Abraham Lincoln, originally taken by Alexander Hesler whose studios and glass negatives he had bought. But George Bucher Ayres had many talents – he was an historian, a photographer, a newspaper editor, an author, amongst others. Search for him by name and you will learn a number of things about him. One of his most interesting adventures was when George Bucher Ayres booked Swedish Nightingale Jennie Lind (formerly employed by Phineas T. Barnum) to make a public appearance in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. George Bucher Ayres – artistically inclined, was also into music, being a musical instructor, working with various musical persons, including a niece, Susan Bucher Ayres, the daughter of his brother.” So this picture could be a water colour overpainted by GB Ayres, the same person who hand painted Abraham Lincoln. It even looks like him when he was younger. See images. Image size – 18.5 cms x 13.3 cms. Framed size 26.5 cms x 21.5 cms