(Speyer 1829–1880 Venice)
Portrait of a Roman woman, old inscription on the reverse Graf Stroganoff A. Feuerbach, oil on canvas. 43,5 x 35,5 cm, framed, (Rei)

Provenance:
Private Collection, Germany

Certificate by Dr Jürgen Ecker, April 2017 available.

Anselm Feuerbach studied under Wilhelm von Schadow and Johann Wilhelm Schirmer at the Düsseldorf Academy. This was followed by stays in Munich and a period of study at the Academy in Antwerp. Feuerbach’s art was decisively influenced by Gustave Courbet, Théodore Rousseau and Eugene Delacroix. Grants enabled Feuerbach to work in Venice, initially, and then Rome. The young artist was greatly influenced by the painting of the Renaissance; the colourfulness of the Venetians, in particular, had an impact on his work. The topics he handled included landscapes, portraits and literary or mythological scenes. His portraits of ladies, in particular, were rendered with deep sensitivity. The present painting depicts a Roman lady, her head tilted slightly to the side and with a quasi-sentimental gaze, wearing simple clothing. Earrings and a necklace emphasise her beauty. The handling of various fabric surfaces is proof of Feuerbach’s ability, honed through academic study.