AMER AUGUST 2015
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/24/2015
AUGUST BENZIGER (American 1867-1935) FULL LENGTH PORTRAIT OF A LADY IN A WHITE GOWNOil on mahogany panel
Unframed
Unsigned, attribution based on handwritten note affixed to verso dated "2003"
August Benziger was born in Switzerland and moved to New York city in 1852. He studied under William Bouguereau and Leon Bonnat at the Ecole Des Beaux Arts in Paris. Upon his return to the United States, Benziger became a sought after portrait painter of notable subjects including presidents, political figures, and financial tycoons.
This portrait is executed in a novel style similar to that of American portrait painter Charles Naegele. Naegele was the first artist to leave the background of his mahogany panels in their natural state, forcing the artist to concentrate on keying up their flesh tones. Although this work is unsigned, it is possible that Benziger was influenced by Naegele's exhibition at the Salmagundi Club in New York, or he acquired this work from Naegele and it was simply in his artist studio upon his death. SIZE: 20-1/2" x 13" PROVENANCE: By decent within the family of the artist August Benziger CONDITION: Surface grime, several minor surface scratches, otherwise very good 49079-1 AL (1,000-1,500)
