A fine late-19th-century portrait of a lady dressed in 16th-century attire by German painter and illustrator, Eugen Johann Georg Klimsch (1839-1896).

It’s tricky to decipher the history of this piece without knowing more about the sitter. It’s most likely a copy of an old master portrait from the Renaissance period - but why did Klimsch create it?

During the 1880s, when the piece was produced, Klimsch was working as a designer for private villas and public buildings. So, with this in mind, it’s plausible that the painting was initially intended as decoration - maybe even for a passenger ship. He often turned to the old masters for inspiration.

Klimsch came from an artistic family and was trained by his father from an early age. He attended the Munich Academy of Fine Arts and is also known as an accomplished illustrator.

The painting is housed within a later frame.

Medium: Oil on canvas laid on board
Overall size: 19” x 22” / 48cm x 56cm
Year of creation: 1884
Provenance: Germany
Condition: As you can see, there are several areas of wear including craquelure, particularly in the top right, and a scar by the eye. However, the paint layer is stable throughout and the painting is fine to hang.
Artist’s auction highlight: £17,118 achieved for ‘Das Picknick’ at auction in 2011.