This late 19th-century portrait by German artist Richard Konkély (1856-1897) depicts a young lady wearing a straw hat with blue ribbon.
Exquisitely attired in a white dress with lace embellishments, a young lady rests in repose. Her image immortalised for over a century. Konkély worked within the upper echelons of society, so she’s likely to be of aristocratic heritage.
It’s a fascinating piece due to its exquisite quality and unusual rendering. Note the prominence of the straw hat and ribbon compared to the skin tones. To achieve this striking effect, Konkély has used both oil and pastel. There are also gridlines, which suggest he scaled up another image - perhaps a photograph provided by the family.
Signed/dated lower left and held within its original gilt frame.
Medium: Oil and pastel on paper
Overall size: 37” x 43” / 95cm x 109cm
Year of creation: 1885
Provenance: Private collection, Germany.
Condition: Artwork presents well. A few minor marks on the surface. Mount with areas of discolouration.
Our reference: BRV591
Born in Altenburg, Germany, Richard Konkély trained at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts before pursuing a career as a portrait painter in Leipzig.
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.
