Max Barascudts, A Lively Discussion

Max Barascudts, A Lively Discussion

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.

Conservation & History

We care profoundly about our role as custodians and every piece in the collection has been assessed by our conservator. When required, we undertake professional restoration carefully using reversible techniques and adopt a light touch to retain the aged charm of each work. We also restore frames rather than replace them as many are original and selected by the artists themselves.

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