Géza Vastagh

Christie's, London, 4 October 1991, Lot 93, for £14,300.

Predominantly known for his paintings of exotic animals, the present work perfectly captures Vastagh’s skill in portrait painting, as well as his careful rendering of the sitter’s clothing and the texture of the lion’s fur. This intimate portrait most likely commissioned by a wealthy family, shows a young boy dressed in costume, seated casually on a lion skin with his plumed hat resting on the floor. This was a format the artist explored a number of times when he was not specifically painting wild animals. The interior settings would often be filled with exotic items such as tropical plants, tiger-skin rugs, middle-eastern objects and Japanese fans - all inspired by the contemporary fashions of Paris. Additionally his trips to Tunisia and Algeria in 1890 and eventually expanding to include the Middle East had a profound impact on his artistic output, inspiring him to focus on painting exotic animals in their natural habitat.

Vastagh exhibited in Paris from 1885 and would go on to exhibit at the Annual Exhibition in Munich in 1890 and the International Art Exhibition in Berlin in 1891, maintaining a presence in both Berlin and Munich. He participated in the annual exhibitions regularly and sought out independent commissions. Interestingly he was commissioned by the Tiergarten Zoo in Berlin to paint many of the larger animals in the years leading up to 1900. Throughout the beginning of the twentieth century Vastagh continued to travel to the Middle East as well as to England. In 1908 the London Exhibitions, Ltd. sponsored a special Hungarian Exhibition at Earl’s Court in which Vastagh’s work was featured, additionally auction catalogues from these years suggest he had a well-established market in England.