Object Description
Large antique oil portrait of a seated lady in white by Nikol Schattenstein
American/Lithuanian, 1909
Canvas: Height 154cm, width 115cm
Frame: Height 167cm, width 128cm, depth 7cm
Painted by Nikol Schattenstein (American/Lithuanian, 1877–1954) in 1909, this portrait portrays an elegant lady seated in a softly lit interior. Schattenstein was celebrated for such scenes throughout his career: after studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna and moving to Berlin in 1906, he became a sought-after portrait painter and depicted many of the period’s most distinguished figures, including Regina Vanderbilt, Raoul Auernheimer, and Lev Trotsky. He later emigrated to the United States, exhibiting with leading New York galleries such as Duveen-Graham, Schoneman, and French & Co., where his refined and expressive portraits continued to attract attention.
This work captures Schattenstein’s talent for capturing both likeness and personality. The sitter, dressed in a white lace gown and a cream jacket fastened with a black ribbon, gazes directly at the viewer, a faint smile flickering across her lips with a touch of playful confidence. Her wide hat, trimmed with pink flowers, introduces a note of colour and charm that contrasts beautifully with the restrained background. The delicate modulation of tone and texture throughout the composition reflects the painter’s instinctive sense of harmony and light—a hallmark of his portrait style.
Signed and dated ‘Nikol Schattenstein, 1909’ in the lower left, the painting is executed in oil on canvas and set within an ebonised frame with gilt detailing.
With its impressive scale, sensitive handling, and engaging subject, it stands as a fine example of early 20th-century portraiture.