Lot 12
  • 12

Hans Makart

Estimate
15,000 - 20,000 GBP
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Description

  • Hans Makart
  • Selbstbildnis (Self-Portrait)
  • oil on paper laid on board
  • 42.5 by 31.5cm., 16¾ by 12½in.

Provenance

Bertha Makart, Vienna (the artist's wife)
Josef Berres Edler von Perez (1821-1912), painter and friend of the artist
Dr Moriz Piffl (1842-1931) (a gift from the above); thence by descent

Literature

Bertha Makart, Die letzten Lebensjahre Hans Makarts, 1885, hand-written manuscript (Stadtbibliothek, Vienna, 66037), p. 13
Gerbert Frodl, Hans Makart: Monographie und Werkverzeichnis, Salzburg, 1974, p. 445, no. 669
Monika Oberhammer‚ 'Ein Selbstbildnis Hans Makarts', Festschrift für Wilhelm Messerer zum 60. Geburtstag, Cologne, 1980, pp. 309-313, illustrated

Condition

Apart from scattered hairline cracks, notably a diagonal one (approx. 21cm.) at the lower centre, and one at the centre of the left edge (approx. 9cm.), the panel is in good, flat condition. There are scattered flecks of retouching visible under ultraviolet light, notably a few at the upper left edge, and to the lower left corner. Apart from a few artist's pinholes at the upper right corner, some yellowing of the varnish, and some flecks of paint loss at the upper right corner, this work is in good condition, with rich tones.
"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."

Catalogue Note

Painted circa 1883, the present work is a rare self-portrait. It is mentioned in Makart's second wife's memoirs, in which she asks the artist, who had always been reluctant to paint himself, to make a self-portrait for her. This commission explains the work's intimate character and modest size.