This spirited early-20th-century oil painting by Serbian artist Peter Kálmán (1877-1948) depicts a music lesson with two women.
Kálmán’s interiors are often fizzing with narrative and alive with movement. Here, he’s capturing the imagination with the sound of a lute, her thumb moving across the strings while she attentively studies the staves. And by conveying sound, he’s drawing us into the room - we’re invited in.
The girl seated, presumably the teacher, is known to the artist and appears in several other works. Her posture is captured skilfully - note the weight of the left hand as it rests upon the chair and the ‘lost in music' expression.
Signed/dated lower left and held within a gilt frame.
Medium: Oil on canvas board
Overall size: 26½” x 28½” / 68cm x 72cm
Year of creation: c. 1920
Condition: Artwork presents well. Frame with some light wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £3,360
Peter Kálmán was a Serbian artist predominantly known for his painterly scenes with figures in domestic settings. He initially trained in Budapest at the Academy of Fine Arts and later in Munich and Rome. His works are often characterised by an enigmatic mood, captivating expressions and confident handling. He's represented in numerous public collections.
Learn more about Peter Kálmán 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 often restore frames rather than replace them as many are original and selected by the artists themselves.
