The half-length portrait of a middle-aged German gentleman in contemplative mood and sensitively executed, the sitter shown as a studious man of thought, his head resting to his hand sitting in an armchair to a dark ground with red tones, the work presented unframed and indistinctly signed and dated to 1927 lower right.
Unknown.
As with the ‘selfie’ today, portraits were also a chance for more self-conscious sitters to be depicted in the latest fashions. In the eighteenth century, the upper classes entered a new era of prosperity. No longer the preserve of royalty, commissioned portraits, of oneself or one’s ancestors, became a coveted symbol of wealth and status which continued even more so in the nineteenth century. The portraits took pride of place in the home, or were given to others as gifts.
Germany in 1927 saw the 3rd Nazi Party Congress held in Nuremberg and the famous film Metropolis being released.
A laid-back portrait of good size and the sitter with that little mischievous twinkle in his eye.
The picture remains in original though unrestored condition with no over-painting and some craquelure and paint fleck loss to the surface; with marks and dirt to the surface remaining uncleaned; with one punctured area to lower center; please refer to the photographs for a visual reference.
By appointment only.
