Lot 40

Gustave Courbet (1819 - 1877) GIRL WITH A ROSE IN HER HAIR

This previously unknown painting by Gustave Courbet comes from a private collection in Prague. According to the last owners, it had been in the family for several generations and was originally purchased from an art dealer in Paris. The concept of a portrait in the form of a bust (in this case a "shortened" bust) appears repeatedly in Courbet's work. This time, the painter's interest is entirely focused on the model's face, with the neck, shoulders, and clothing playing a secondary role. The diagonal axis of the slight tilt of the head, which suggests movement, is significant. The effect of liveliness and immediacy is also achieved through the subtle psychology of the expression and the urgent eye contact with the viewer. The quality of the painting is exceptional; despite its small format, it can be described as museum-quality, i.e., it meets the highest collector's standards. The painting has undergone thorough forensic, restoration, and art-historical research. The work is accompanied by an art history assessment by PhDr. Anna Janištinová, a restoration survey by Akad. mal. rest. Martin Martan, and a restoration report by Akad. mal. rest. Tomáš and Jana Záhořovi.