Max Barascudts, a Lively Discussion, Early 20th-century Oil Painting

1900 - 1920

Sold by Brave Fine Art

Description

A fine early 20th-century oil painting depicting three monks holding a lively conversation in a library. The artist, Max Barascudts (1869-1927) was known for his detailed genre scenes, particularly of religious subjects.

During the period 1900-1930, the church commissioned many paintings of this nature to soften its image. It seems that the ambition was to become more approachable and challenge the perception of a stuffy institution.

Here, we see three monks discussing the finer details of a book. One appears to be gesturing as he politely makes his point, while the others look on.

Barascudts trained at the Munich Academy under Paul Höcker and Johann Leonhard Raab. Alongside his work as a painter, he was also a prominent illustrator and graphic artist.

Here’s another of his works: https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-4367360

The painting is signed in the lower right and held within a period swept frame.

Medium: Oil on board

Overall size: 22” x 18” / 56cm x 45cm

Year of creation: c. 1915

Provenance: England

Condition: Areas of light craquelure. Frame with some age-related wear.

Artist’s auction highlight: £2,367 achieved for ‘Drei Krokodile in historischem Interieur’ at an auction in 1999.

Physical Dimensions

Height

45cm (17.72")

Width

56cm (22.05")

Depth

4cm (1.57")

Declaration

Brave Fine Art has dated this piece to the 1910s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA801926

Description

A fine early 20th-century oil painting depicting three monks holding a lively conversation in a library.

“

The artist, Max Barascudts (1869-1927) was known for his detailed genre scenes, particularly of religious subjects.

Brave Fine Art

fig 1. Max Barascudts, A Lively Discussion, Early 20th-Century Oil Painting — fig 1. Max Barascudts, a Lively Discussion, Early 20th-century Oil Painting

During the period 1900-1930, the church commissioned many paintings of this nature to soften its image. It seems that the ambition was to become more approachable and challenge the perception of a stuffy institution.

fig 2. Max Barascudts, A Lively Discussion, Early 20th-Century Oil Painting — fig 2. Max Barascudts, a Lively Discussion, Early 20th-century Oil Painting

Here, we see three monks discussing the finer details of a book. One appears to be gesturing as he politely makes his point, while the others look on.

Barascudts trained at the Munich Academy under Paul Höcker and Johann Leonhard Raab. Alongside his work as a painter, he was also a prominent illustrator and graphic artist.