Breathtaking vintage rendering of a 19th Century player in full uniform and handsome pillbox hat preparing to deliver a pitch. Housed inside a gold-painted wooden frame measuring approximately 23" x 27" we cannot ascertain the medium of the work as the brushstrokes are fine enough that it may actually be an illustration rather than a painting. Regardless it is a show-stopper one of the more beautiful works we have encountered immaculately preserved inside its frame which we do believe to be original with a hanging wire added at some subsequent point. The backing of the frame is wood and one panel has been lost leaving the paper backing the painting exposed. Theoretically we could remove the backing to learn more about the painting but our experience with frames of this age gives us pause as they often practically disintigrate as they are being removed. This is simply a wonderful work of vintage art in a gorgeous ornate period frame depicting a 19th Century ballplayer. NOTE: We have received additional information from our friend and photo expert David Rudd Cycleback about the medium of this piece. David has advised us that this is likely what is called a "chalk and crayon portrait." These were underdeveloped photos that had chalk and crayon added to them to add color and detail. They were made as display art pieces. Typically only one was made so this is very likely to be one of a kind. Additionally the size of this piece is commonly called a "mammoth" photo which was the largest size made. Since it was expensive and difficult to make large photos in the 19th Century anything over 20" x 20" is the largest size typically seen and is very rare today.