(Grabowczyk 1850–1911 Munich)
Young flower seller, signed Czachorski, oil on canvas, 40 x 29 cm, framed

Provenance:
Sale, Sotheby’s, London, 11 June 2012, Lot 22;
Private Collection, Austria.

Compare:
Henryk Piatkowski, Wl. Czachorski. Monografje artystyczne tom XI, Warsaw 1927, „Marchande des fleurs“.

The Polish painter Władysław Czachórski (Ladislaus von Czachorski) is a representative of the Munich School. He began his artistic education in 1866/1867, in the drawing class taught by the Polish history painter Rafał Hadziewicz (1803-1883). Afterwards, he studied at the Dresden Academy of Art in 1868 before heading to the Munich Academy of Fine Arts from 1869 to 1873, where became a pupil of Hermann Anschutz, Alexander Wagner and Karl von Piloty. He undertook study trips to Italy and France between 1874 and 1877, before settling in Munich in 1879. There he soon established himself as portrait painter favoured by the city’s wealthy bourgeoisie and ran a successful studio until his death. His oeuvre encompasses genre scenes, portraits and still lifes, as well as scenes taken from literature, history and drama. His pictures of Shakespearean dramas are characterised by the naturalistic rendering of female figures in period costumes.
The present lot depicts a young lady in profile holding a basket of splendid flowers in her hands and is an impressive demonstration of Czachórski's masterly skills. The softness of her skin is almost palpable and contrasts with the coolness of her pearl necklace. With a dreamy gaze she wanders into the distance while proudly presenting a basket of roses and carnations, intended for sale.
The sitter is shown with photographic precision and her gaze also invites the viewer to dream along.