Herman Richir

'Lady on the Sofa' by Herman Richir (1866 – Brussels – 1942)

Late 19th Century

Jean François Portaels 1818 - Brussels - 1895 Belgian Painter ‘Oriental Girls - Mediants à Tanger, Maroc’ Signature: signed lower right ‘J. Portaels’ Medium: oil on canvas Dimensions: image size 40,5 x 28,5 cm, frame size 67,5 x 56 cm Biography: Jean François Portaels, also known as Jan Portaels, was a versatile Belgian painter born on April 3, 1818, in Vilvoorde and passed away on February 8, 1895, in Schaerbeek. He was celebrated for his genre scenes, biblical stories, landscapes, portraits, and Orientalist subjects. As a teacher and director of the Academy of Fine Arts of Ghent and the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, Portaels significantly impacted Belgian art, becoming a pivotal figure in the Belgian Orientalist school. His works were known for their 'everyday elegance and feminine grace,' and he played a crucial role in influencing the next generation of Belgian artists, including notable figures like Théo van Rysselberghe. Portaels was the son of a wealthy brewer who also served as Vilvoorde's mayor. Showing an early passion for drawing, he was sent to the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels in 1836, where he studied under François-Joseph Navez, a former student of Jacques-Louis David. Navez invited him to his studio, which was renowned at the time, allowing Portaels to refine his skills alongside other talented students like Charles de Groux and Joseph Stallaert. In 1841, Portaels moved to Paris, enrolling at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and studying under Paul Delaroche. He became influenced by the emerging Orientalist movement, which was gaining traction in Paris. In 1842, he won the Grand Prix de Rome, which funded his travels across Italy and other regions, including Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Judea, Spain, Hungary, and Norway. These journeys profoundly influenced his artistic vision, particularly his Orientalist works. Upon his return to Belgium in 1847, Portaels was appointed Director of the academy in Ghent. In 1849, he married Marie Hélène Navez, the daughter of his first teacher. Despite being offered the directorship of the Brussels Academy, he initially declined, opting to preserve his independence. He later accepted a teaching position at the Academy and eventually became its director in 1878, succeeding Eugène Simonis. Portaels was known for his broad range of artistic talents, including history painting, portraiture, and genre art. He was particularly recognised for his Orientalist depictions, often portraying the 'Oriental woman' with distinctive features like arched eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes. His style, marked by charm and elegance, distinguished him from the dominant artistic movements of Classicism and Romanticism. He was a pioneer in monumental art in Belgium, working with Jean Baptiste van Eycken to introduce fresco techniques like water glass painting...

Toussaint Fernand Brussels 1873 – 1956 Belgian Painter Portrait of a Lady Signature: Signed bottom left Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: Image size 46 x 38 cm, frame size 64 x 56 c...

Krabbé Hendrik Maarten London 1868 – 1931 Amsterdam Dutch Painter 'Three Sisters' Signature: signed top right 'Krabbé' Medium: watercolour heightened with white Dimensions: image size 60,5 x 50,5 cm, frame size 85 x 75 cm Biogtaphy: Hendrik Maarten Krabbé, also known as Heinrich Martin Krabbé, was a distinguished Dutch painter, draftsman, watercolorist, etcher, illustrator, and lithographer. Born in London on May 4, 1868, and passing away in Amsterdam on December 22, 1931, Krabbé left a significant artistic legacy. After one year of attending the Higher Civic School (HBS), Krabbé was forced to abandon formal education due to tuberculosis, but he continued to develop his talent with private drawing lessons at home. From 1883 to 1888, he pursued his studies at the School of Applied Arts and the Rijksacademie in Amsterdam, where he trained under notable artists such as August Allebé and Rudolf Stang, learning techniques in drawing, painting, watercoloring, etching, and lithography. In 1896, Krabbé began his career as a teacher at the School of Applied Arts in Haarlem, a position he held for a decade. His influence extended to many future renowned artists, including Charles Beck, Ger Gerrits...

Victor Abeloos 1881 – Brussels – 1965 Belgian Painter 'Girl at the Mirror' Signature: signed lower left and dated 1920 'V. Abeloos. 1920' Medium: oil on panel Dimensions: ima...

Portrait of an Elderly Lady, mirror behind French Impressionist artist, late 19th/ early 20th century extensively inscribed verso with details oil on canvas canvas: 22 x 18.5 inches ...

Artist/ School: Sophie Rubinstain (French, 20th century), stamped verso Title: Portrait of a Young Lady Medium: oil painting on canvas, unframed Size: painting: 21.5 x 18 inche...

Mid century portrait of two children, a young boy and girl in traditional dress, set in a rustic interior by M. Ray Stancliff (American, b. 1925). Si...

Boldly colored portrait of a woman on a sofa by Nealon A. Mundt (American, 1939-2015). A woman is reclining on a dark blue sofa, with a pink wall in the background. The woman is wearing a white top and a pink skirt, with a red bandana on her hear. Her skin is rendered in a fauvist style, mixing bold yellows and greens with skin tones. There are paintings hanging on the wall behind the sofa. Signed and dated in the lower right corner. Titled, signed, and dated on verso. Presented in a wood frame with a linen fillet. Canvas size: 24"H x 36"W Nealon Mundt...