$25,000
1881 oil on canvas 60 x 51 cm (23 1/2 x 20 in. ) signed and dated upper right PROVENANCE Sotheby's, New York, June 12, 1980, lot 102 Sotheby's, New York, October 24, 1989, lot 292 Christie's, New York, November 4, 2004, lot 264 Christie's, New York, May 10, 2007, lot 286 Private Collection, New York (acquired at the above sale) EXHIBITED Palais des Beaux-Arts, L'Essor. VI Exposition annuelle no. 207 (titled La Femme à L'éventail ), January-February 1882, Brussels; (possibly) Cercle artistique et littéraire February 19-27, 1882, Grand, France LOT NOTES This portrait is a rare example of artist's early painting. It represents his transition between the Belgian realistic tradition and impressionism. Born in Ghent in 1862, Théo van Rysselberghe studied first at the Academy of Ghent under Théo Canneel and from 1879 at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels under the directorship of Jean-François Portaels. Barely 18 years old, he already participated at the Salon of Ghent, showing two artworks. In 1881 he exhibited for the first time at the Salon in Brussels. The artist soon abandoned the glum colours of his native traditional painting of that time and departed from this style to set his first steps towards impressionism. The next year he travelled in Spain and Morocco together with his friend Frantz Charlet and the Asturian painter Darío de Regoyos. From this trip the artist brings back the portraits that are already completely different in style. LITERATURE R. Feltk
Auctioneer:
Shapiro Auctions
Date:
2015-02-28
