ISAAC ISRAELS | Carmencita

Jan Michiel Pieter Glerum, Amsterdam, by circa 1918 (1879 – 1930; one of Amsterdam's greatest art collectors, by the 1920s Glerum had a collection of over two thousand works of art, including many paintings by Isaac Israels, whom he knew personally. Most of his collection was sold after his death; his sale: S.J. Mak van Waay, Amsterdam, 28 February 1933, lot 110 (as Carmencita))
Liesbeth Schokking-Ribbius Peletier, Doorn (by 1965)
Sale: Mak van Waay, Amsterdam, 15 April 1975, lot 61
Private collection, the Netherlands
Kunsthandel Rueb, Amsterdam, by 2008
Acquired from the above by the present owner

Laren, Singer Museum, Isaac Israels; de schilder 1865-1934, een eeuw na zijn geboorte, 1965, no. 92 (as Carmen)
The Hague, Gemeentemuseum, Jozef en Isaac Israëls, Vader & Zoon, 2008-09 (as Carmen; illustrated in the catalogue)

The canvas has not been lined and is securely attached to a keyed wooden stretcher. With the exception of one very small spot of cosmetic retouching in the far upper right corner (possibly addressing old flaking in a small area where the paint surface appears to be somewhat brittle), inspection under ultra-violet light reveals no further visible sign of retouching. This work appears to be in good original condition and is ready to hang. Presented in a decorative gilt 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 present work is thought to depict the Spanish dancer Carmencita (Carmen Dauset Moreno, 1868-1910), a renowned Spanish dancer who performed internationally, in London, Paris and New York. She had many admirers and was painted by artists including John Singer Sargent and William Merritt Chase, and James Carroll Beckwith, who also filmed her. Israels' portrait was painted in Paris, and reflects Israels' fascination with both the personalities and latest fashions that abounded in the French capital - as also suggested by what appears to be a Japanese print hanging on the wall.

The son of the Dutch naturalist painter Jozef Israels, in 1887 Israels moved to Amsterdam where he became a member of the Tachtigers, a group of progressive artists and writers. In 1903 he left for Paris where he took on an atelier Boulevard de Clichy. The cafés, cabarets and the elegant world of haute couture offered up a wealth of subjects for the young arriviste. He gained access to exclusive fashion houses such as Paquin and Drecoll where he observed the wealthy clientele and the work of the seamstresses and the milliners, and became a regular visitor to the Moulin Rouge, the Moulin de la Galette, and to fashionable restaurants such as Le Perroquet.