This early 20th-century oil painting by Spanish artist César Fernández Ardavín (1883-1974) depicts a cheerful young woman before a mirror.
Buoyant and playful, she sits casually on a chaise lounge. Her effervescent smile reflected in a mirror. She could be an actress looking out from the screen - portrayed as we see her.
It’s an unusual and rather witty piece, full of life and joviality. An inscription in the lower right translates as ‘For Frances, from your _(illegible)_ and friend César Fernández Ardavín’, which is intriguing as Ardavín worked among numerous celebrities due to his familiarity with the film industry. Both of his brothers had connections and his son became a well-known director.
A charming piece from one friend to another.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 31½” x 37½” / 80cm x 95cm
Year of creation: c. 1940
Labels & Inscriptions: ‘For Frances, from your _(illegible)_ and friend César Fernández Ardavín’.
Provenance: Private collection, Spain.
Condition: Artwork presents well. Craquelure but the paint is stable. Frame with some light wear.
Our reference: BRV1567
Spanish artist César Fernández Ardavín was primarily known as a poster designer but also produced portraits and landscapes in oil along with over 1,000 drawings. His family has close ties with the film industry as his brother, Luis, was a writer and another brother, Eusebio, was a multi-disciplinarian in cinematographic disciplines. César preferred to pursue a career in design and painting but did produce various film posters. He also worked at his father’s lithographic studio.
His son, César Fernández-Ardavín Ruiz, became a director. An example of his work is held in The Frick Collection, New York.
Learn more about César Fernández Ardavín in our directory.
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.
