Ladislaus von Czachorski

The panel is in good condition, flat and even. There are a few very minor flecks of retouching visible under ultraviolet light, to the centres of each extreme edge of the panel. Apart from an area of light scuffs and a fleck of paint loss at the centre of the extreme right edge, some frame rubbing along the extreme left edge and some small areas of very fine craquelure, notably to the upper left quadrant and along the lower extreme right edge, this work is in good condition, with rich colours and fine detail. Held in a decorative, gold-painted moulded plaster and wood frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The Blossom of Youth is an apt title for this luscious subject: a girl in the full bloom of youth, surrounded by flowers and a lavish interior, delicately plucks a flower from a bronze vase. This work shows Czarchorski at the height of his skills in depicting genre subjects. The rosy flush of her cheeks and the pink tones of her fastidiously-rendered eighteenth century dress mirror the blossoms that spill from a bronze vase, over a marble-topped table and are clutched as a bouquet in her hand. The young woman's loveliness and innocence are set off to their best advantage in the splendid and eclectic room, each element denoting sophisticated taste and social status.

Czachorski's favourite subjects ranged from still lifes to Shakespearian scenes, but he is best known for his detailed illustrations of exquisite aristocratic women in extravagantly appointed interiors. The Blossom of Youth is both a celebration of beauty and youth and, as signified by the young woman's act of plucking the flower, a memento mori.

Czachorski began his artistic training at the Warsaw Drawing School at the age of sixteen. After studying for a year at the Dresden Academy and joining the Munich Academy, where he spent five years under the direction of Hermann Anschutz, Alexander Wagner and Karl von Piloty, he won the prestigious Grand Silver Medal upon graduation. Czachoriski then travelled throughout Europe, visiting France, Italy and Poland. He settled permanently in Munich in 1879, but continued to exhibit frequently in Poland, in particular Warsaw, Krakow, Lwow and Lodz.