Alfred von Wierusz-Kowalski

Acquired by the family of the present owner in the 1950s; thence by descent

Original canvas. There are scattered flecks of retouching, partially obscured under a varnish visible under ultraviolet light, but the work is overall in very good condition and ready to hang. Held in a simple brown and gold-painted moulded plaster and wood frame.
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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."

Troika Pursued by Wolves epitomises Wierusz-Kowalski's large-scale paintings of horse-drawn carriages in wide open snow-covered landscapes. In the present work a troika races a pack of wolves against the backdrop of a dramatic evening sky. The crispness of the snow and the dried blades of grass in the foreground, as well as the close observation of the animals' movements and glossy coats is truly remarkable, and rivals the work of his former tutor and mentor, Jozef Brandt.

Resident in Munich from 1873, Alfred Wierusz-Kowalski was a painter of Polish customs and rural life. He became best known for his depictions of sledge and coach rides in the snow, such as the present work. These paintings were valued for their exotic flavour by European and American art dealers and collectors alike.

Wierusz approached his subjects narratively in compositions full of dynamism and attention to detail. Finding great success as an artist in Germany, Wierusz-Kowalski nevertheless returned regularly to Poland, whose landscapes would remain the main inspiration for his work.