Louis Toussaint

The Tinker

“The Tinker” by Louis Toussaint
Oil on Canvas
Signed and dated 1864
Mr. Eells grandparents purchased in Chicago c. 1920.
The painting depicts a seated tinker outdoors who traveled from place to place mending metal household items. He is surrounded by children and adults from the community waiting for their wares to be fixed. One woman in the center of the picture is inspecting a repair. A boy is sliding down a stonewall behind the tinkers toward the viewer. Three other children crouch and peek over the top of the wall. The background on the left includes evergreen trees and blue sky, hazy mountains and a fragment of tower in the distance. Overall it is lighthearted gathering with 15 figures depicted watching the tinker at work.
Painting donated by Robert Eells.
This painting was conserved by Barry Bauman Conservation in 2016 with funds donated by Kathryn Griffin.