Lot 50
Václav Brožík (1851 - 1901) A PORTRAIT OF KAROLINA OLIVARIUS

130 x 85 cm (h x w)

Starting price

300 000 CZK
| 12 000 €

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Oil on canvas. According to the expert opinion prepared by PhDr. Naděžda Blažíčková-Horová: “'A Portrait of Karolina Olivarius' is a very well executed and typical example of Brožík's portrait painting. In the late 19th century Brožík was a popular portrait painter, and he painted the likenesses of a number of major figures of his time in Paris and Prague. All paintings characterize the unique portrayal of each faces, delicate color, and smooth, miniscule painting; in them one can observe the strong influence of Flemish portrait painting, especially Anthonis van Dyck. Like Van Dyck, Brožík had a sense for the painterly expression of clothing; through the use of color he was able to distinguish types of fabric and faithfully depict jewelry down to the finest detail. In this portrait, he embellished the black velvet evening gown with a gathered periwinkle-colored bustle. The lace lining of the bustle is again used at the décolletage, Brožík decorated with a red flower. He accentuated the neckline with a gold pendant hanging from a necklace; with bracelets around her wrists, in one elbow-length gloved hand she holds a red fan; the bow on her shoulder and flower in her hair is also red.” The painting is originally from the family of the portrait subject.