Lot 45

Antonín Slavíček (1870 - 1910) THE ROAD TO HVĚZDA

The theme of roads, paths and birch groves, which Slavíček repeated shortly after completing this painting in Birch Mood, In the Autumn Fog and At Hvězda, is present in his early work, which can largely be classified as traditional, realistic landscape painting. However, in his assessment Professor Wittlich points out the hints of broken colour, forming the flat spots that depict the ground and fallen leaves. Besides the painting style, the signature is also early, with the painter using the abbreviation "Ant." instead of his initial "A". A similar signature can be found on his 1895 painting The Road in the Rain. The discovery of this painting is also exceptional. The provenance is an important Prague family that hid the painting in the double back panel of a cabinet before leaving the country. The painting was found only recently, when the cabinet was slated for restoration. The painting is truly rare collector’s piece, as Slavíček's early work rarely appears on the art market. Oil on canvas, signed on bottom left "Ant. Slavíček". Color analysis: Michal Pech, expert assessment by Professor Petr Wittlich.