The manner of this watercolor suggests to me that it was painted earlier in the 19th century (c. 1830s-40s) and signed by its maker, Eliza R. Stone (b.1817), many years later, at the age of 75 in 1892, as noted bottom left. (Perhaps on her death bed, marking things she would leave behind!) And in that same black ink she counted and labeled the four hidden faces in the watercolor: two silhouettes facing the stem of the urn, and two more defined by the trunks of the trees, facing in. I love a mourning picture and I also love a drawing or painting that is also a puzzle of sorts, and here two (four!) in one.
In late 18th century France, engravings with hidden silhouettes became a thing--specifically as means of communicating royalist sympathies. Most commonly it was the profiles of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, and often the royal children too, that were stealthily incorporated into representations of landscapes, ruins, monuments and memorials, like this urn flanked by weeping willow at right and locust (?) at left. (There are also examples of period export porcelain incorporating the same imagery; I've included one example at end of photos.) This watercolor was clearly inspired by one such print, or plate! Pretty cool.
6" x 5" framed, as found, presumed original frame with newer backing. One tear and one area of loss (backed by paper of the same tone) toward the bottom of the paper, which itself certainly shows some general toning. Watercolor and ink itself strong and sharp. Frame I believe c. 1840s and in very good condition.
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