mandolin player in costume

Description

This mandolin player in costume is a reproduction of “The Mandolin #3” (1866), a captivating oil painting by English Pre-Raphaelite artist James Smetham (1821–1889). It portrays a beautiful young woman with an extraordinarily penetrating gaze, dressed in vaguely Middle Eastern costume and playing a mandolin Pixels — the kind of look that makes you feel like she’s sizing you up from across the centuries.

Smetham was a follower of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and The Mandolin bears all the hallmarks of the Pre-Raphaelite master — a half-length female figure close to the picture plane, richly attired and utterly mesmerizing. DailyArt In fact, there’s a compelling backstory: a note on the reverse of the original canvas states that Smetham’s widow confirmed the picture was partially painted by Rossetti himself at his studio in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea. DailyArt Collaborative genius or happy accident — either way, the result is stunning. When The Mandolin sold at Christie’s London in December 2017, it fetched over £476,000 — more than three times its high estimate Art — making this mandolin player in costume the most valuable Smetham work ever sold at auction.

This is a licensed art reproduction.

This tile is UV printed on 1/8″ Baltic birch wood for a warm, natural finish that makes the colors pop. The back is engraved with the HexWallTiles website. It comes as a standalone tile — you can use sticky tack to apply it directly to your wall, or pair it with one of our hexagon frames for a more finished look. Frames, necklaces, and all other hexagon accessories are sold separately.

Wondering where to hang it? HexWallTiles work beautifully in a home office, bedroom, or living room. Hang a single tile as a standalone statement piece, cluster several together for a gallery wall effect, or wind them down a hallway for something truly unexpected. The hex shape means every arrangement looks intentional — there are no wrong choices.

Made in small batches from natural materials here in Springfield, Missouri. Please allow for slight variation between tiles — that’s part of what makes each one unique and handmade.

Sizes available: 1.5″, 3″, 6″, and 12″ width.

Looking for more designs like this one? Browse our full Vintage collection for more original artwork.