In this ongoing series for Fine Art Today, we take a longer look at the history and features of a soon-to-be-available artwork of note. This week’s painting will make a lovely addition to your academic collection.
Works by Eugene von Blaas (1843-1931), an accomplished Academic painter of the 19th and early 20th centuries, are prized possessions any collector would want as their own. Born near Rome, Italy, to Austrian parents, Blaas’ father was also a skilled painter who later became professor at the Academy of Venice.
Typical of Blaas’ works are figurative subjects, often showing Venetian women in period clothing. Further, critics often recognize Blaas’ use of vivid color, which helps distinguish his works from other period artists.
Heading to auction via Bonham’s on March 1 in London is a beautiful portrait of an Italian seamstress by Blaas. In what is undoubtedly one of his mature works, a dark-haired girl with flushed cheeks sits in half length. Set against a gray background, the subject carefully threads a needle. Blaas’ attention to texture, especially the embroidery around the sitter’s blouse, is noteworthy.
With a solid provenance and in great condition, auction estimates are between $50,000 and $75,000. To learn more, visit Bonhams.
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