Brave Fine Art has dated this piece to the 19th Century.
It’s interesting to consider whether this piece originated as a commission or an observation. If it’s a commission, the lady here clearly had a point to make regarding the correct way to sup a glass of champers - with the pinky finger gently extended.
Kraus painted this towards the end of his life with five decades of experience behind him. He had the honour of studying under, and working alongside, some of the greatest painters of his generation including Thomas Couture (1815-1879) and Édouard Manet (1832-1883). This experience primed him to become an important and well-loved salon painter in Paris, Rome and Berlin.
The painting is housed within an extraordinary gilded frame with pink highlighting and foliate. The reverse bears an exhibition label from the Berlin International Art Exhibition of 1891 and the official catalogue entry can be found online. It appears that originally the piece was titled 'Moderne Bacchantin' and exhibited alongside 'Antike Bacchantin' - a playful reference to a modern day worshipper of wine.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 30” x 40” / 77cm x 102cm
Year of creation: 1891
Provenance: Monaco
Condition: Overall very presentable following a light restoration with no significant issues. The canvas has been relined. Frame with general age-related wear but in good order.
Artist’s auction highlight: £9,496 achieved for 'Esmeralda' at auction in 2011.
Brave Fine Art has dated this piece to the 19th Century.
Exquisite antique paintings that capture the imagination.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Brave Fine Art Profile Page
Friedrich Kraus, Champagne Elegance, Large Museum-quality Late 19th-century Oil Painting, International Exhibition Label
