Georgios Jakobides Greek, 1852-1932

Kimon Michalidis, Artist's Life: G. Jakobides, Panathinea, 30 November 1903, p. 116
Anonymous, Art Exhibition at Parnassus Gallery, Panathinea, 15 February 1904, p. 272, illustrated
Christou, p. 240
Olga Metzafou-Polyzou, Georgios Jakobides, Dictionary of Greek Artists, 16-20th Century, Athens, 1998, pp. 37-38, mentioned
Olga Metzafou-Polyzou, Jakobides, Athens, 1999, no. 187, pp. 221 (illustrated) & 350 (catalogued)

A student of Nikiforos Lytras (see lots 19 - 21) at the School of Fine Arts in Athens, Jakobides excelled in portraiture and genre painting. After completing his training in Greece he moved to Munich and studied at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste. There he was influenced by the work of German artists such as Ludwig von Lofftz, Wilhelm Lindenschmidt and Gabriel von Max. According to Maria Katsanaki, ''During his residence in Munich, a period to which can be traced the influences of German impressionism on his work specifically in regard to the rendering of light and colour, he showed particular interest in genre painting, scenes from childhood, as well as the depiction of figures in the countryside. Upon his return to Greece he turned primarily to the execution of official portraits, still lifes and flower paintings" (Marina Lambraki Plaka ed., Four Centuries of Greek Painting, Athens, 1999, p. 661).

Painted in 1902, Jakobides exhibited Portrait of the young Stampoulopoulou at the Parnassus exhibition the following year. Critics applauded the work for its realistic depiction of the sitter. Rather than idealising the young girl, Jakobides chose to present her with almost photographic accuracy. The handling of the young girl painted in warm tones is firmly rooted in German romanticism. Likewise, the warm, earthy palette and strong chiaroscuro suggests the pre-occupation with light that captivated Jakobides during this period. The monumental size of the composition suggests that this was an important commission for the artist.