Wladislaw Czachorski

Prinzregent Luitpold Karl Joseph Wilhelm Ludwig von Bayern (according to an old German auction house label on the stretcher; Luitpold Prince Regent of Bavaria (1821-1912) was the de facto ruler of Bavaria from 1886 to 1912, due to the incapacity of his nephews, King Ludwig II and King Otto.)
Purchased in Munich circa 1970 by the family of the present owner; thence by descent

Henryk Piatkowski, Wl. Czachorski, Monografje Artystyczne, vol. XI, Warsaw, 1927, n. p., illustrated (titled Le Repos)

The canvas has not been lined. Apart from some very fine lines of craquelure in the sitter's face and neckline, and some minor cosmetic touches of retouching along the framing edges, the work is in very good original condition and ready to hang. Presented in a decorative 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."

Surrounded by a sumptuous interior, a girl in the prime of youth takes a moment's rest from her reading. The painting shows Czarchorski at the height of his skills in depicting genre subjects. The rosy flush of her cheeks is played off by the sensuous furnishings, from the silk upholstery of the sofa on which she sits, to the veined marble table top and the gushing blossom, redolent of sophisticated taste and social status. While the girl's pose and black choker bring to mind Manet's Olympia, the message could not be more different. While the latter was the ultimate challenge to the conventional depiction of women in art, Czarchorski's painting plays to refined taste.

Czachorski's favourite subjects ranged from still lifes to Shakespearian scenes, but he is best known for his detailed illustrations of exquisite aristocratic women in extravagantly appointed interiors. Czachorski began his artistic training at the Warsaw Drawing School at the age of sixteen. After studying for a year at the Dresden Academy and joining the Munich Academy, where he spent five years under the direction of Hermann Anschutz, Alexander Wagner and Karl von Piloty, he won the prestigious Grand Silver Medal upon graduation. Czachorski then travelled throughout Europe, visiting France, Italy and Poland. He settled permanently in Munich in 1879, but continued to exhibit frequently in Poland, in particular Warsaw, Krakow, Lwow and Lodz.