An unusual thought-provoking portrait of a lady in profile by German artist, William Anton Joseph Claus (1862-1926).
She gazes to our left with porcelain skin, rouged around the cheeks, and blush red lipstick. Her hair is styled according to the day and she wears simple jewellery - refined and elegant.
William Claus led an intriguing life and is known predominantly as the illustrator behind the Anne of Green Gables novel. Together with his wife, May, he created several drawings for its first edition.
He was born in Mainz, Germany, and emigrated to America sometime before 1880 - when he’s known to have lived in Boston. But he must have travelled back to Europe several times as he trained at the Académie Julian in Paris and undertook study trips to Italy.
While in Boston, he also studied under Emil Otto Grundmann (1844-1890) and exhibited several works at the Boston Art Club.
The painting is signed/dated in the upper left and housed within its original gilded frame.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 23½” x 28” / 60cm x 71cm
Year of creation: 1918
Provenance: USA
Condition: Some scuffing around the edges due to the frame. Craquelure but the paint layer is stable. Frame with some minor losses and age-related wear.
Artist’s auction highlight: £3,925 achieved for 'Automedon with the Horse of Achilles' at auction in 2005.
