Alida Rabe, Portrait of a Philosopher - Antique Oil Painting

This fine mid-19th-century oil painting by Swedish artist Alida Rabe (1825-1870) depicts a philosopher in contemplation. Rabe was a studious painter of portraits, religious subjects, and history.

With his right hand pressed against a gaunt cheek, his distant expression is one of introspective cogitation. Given the attire, it’s likely to be a copy of an older work. An inscription on the reverse explains that it was given to the artist’s half-uncle, the theologian Carl Olbers (1819-1892).

“Except our own thoughts, there is nothing absolutely in our power.” René Descartes.

Born in Västra Götaland County, Sweden, Rabe undertook her early tuition in Stockholm before heading to Düsseldorf, which was considered one of Europe’s foremost artistic environments. She was 19 when undertaking this trip and it’s unclear whether she travelled alone. It’s conceivable that she followed a similar path to Sophie Ribbing who enrolled at the Düsseldorf Academy around the same time. She’s known to have painted Ribbing’s portrait.

A year after arriving in Germany, Rabe travelled to Paris to train with Ange Tissier and the eminent Ary Scheffer. It would have been an exceedingly academic environment and one that she undoubtedly flourished in. From around 1863, she worked predominantly in France but little is known of her life.

Only a handful of her works have been digitised, so the breadth of her oeuvre is unknown. But it appears that, aside from portraiture, she specialised in both religious and historical scenes - faithfully working in the image of the Old Masters.

Inscribed on the reverse and held in a contemporary frame.

Learn more about Alida Rabe in our directory.

Medium: Oil on canvas

Overall size: 28½” x 34” / 73cm x 87cm

Year of creation: c. 1865

Labels & Inscriptions: Inscribed on reverse in Swedish. Translated as “This painting belonged to / Domprost C Olbers, Lund. / Painted by Alida Rabe in Paris / (1825-1870) / With stamp, the canvas was purchased from Mr De Coutters.”

Provenance: With Domprost C Olbers, Lund / Private collection, Sweden.

Condition: Cleaned. Revarnished. Canvas relined. Craquelure in areas. The paint layer is stable. Frame in excellent condition.

Artist’s auction maximum: £2,160 for ‘Woman And The Blind Man’, Oil on canvas, Auktionskammare, Sweden, 1992 (lot 661).

Our reference: BRV1874