Continental School

'Continental School' is a catch-all attribution used by auction houses to describe European paintings and works of art whose specific artist remains unidentified, typically originating from mainland Europe excluding Britain. These works generally date from the 17th through 19th centuries and reflect the academic and decorative traditions of French, Italian, Dutch, Flemish, German, or Spanish studios. The designation acknowledges skilled craftsmanship while indicating that definitive authorship or national attribution cannot be conclusively established.