Portrait of an Officer, Dated 1848, Franz Eybl (1806-1880)

Oil on canvas.

Exquisite portrait of a young officer wearing a black high collar coat with red piping, two striking and very fine metal epaulettes held in place by silver passants, and a large silver badge worn on the black patent leather cross-belt. This masculine portrait is striking in quality and its virtuoso treatment of light. The handling and rendering of the paint and the high degree of realism is testament to this leading artist and sits amongst the best examples in their oeuvre. In a fine gilt antique frame with egg and dart detail. The frame is in excellent condition and still retains its beautiful original gilding.

The portrait is signed “Eybl” and dated 1848. This was the year known as the ‘Revolutions of 1848’ in which a revolutionary wave began in France and immediately spread to most of Europe. Over 50 countries were affected.

Franz Eybl (1806-1880) was born near Vienna. At the age of 10 he entered the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. Between 1820 and 1823 he further his studies and also reproduced antique statues and casts. In 1825, the Academy awarded the Gundel Prize, and in 1828, he won the Lampi prize. These awards mark Eybl's high status as a student and painter. In 1843 Eybl became a member of the Academy. He painted landscapes, genre, and portraits but his most significant work is the portrait and he is one of the most important portrait painters of the 19th century in Austria.

Eybl's paintings are now in major art collections around the world. The artist’s work has achieved large sums at auction. A portrait of a girl and man (45x37cm or 17 3/4 x 14 5/8 inches) sold for $25,640 in Munich in 1992. A small portrait of a boy (20x16cm or 7 7/8 x 6 ¼ inches) sold for $19,465 in Munich in 2005. In October 2016, a genre painting sold for $11,200 in Vienna.

Provenance: Private collection Vienna

Measurements: Height 86cm, Width 74cm framed (Height 33.75”, Width 29” framed)

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