2400 Market St
Philadelphia, PA 19147
United States
Established in 1805, Freeman’s Auction House holds tradition close, with a progressive mind-set towards marketing and promotion, along with access to a team of top experts in the auction business. And now with offices in New England, the Southeast, and on the West Coast, it has never been easier to ...Read more
Two ways to bid:
Price | Bid Increment |
---|---|
$0 | $25 |
$500 | $50 |
$1,000 | $100 |
$2,000 | $200 |
$3,000 | $250 |
$5,000 | $500 |
$10,000 | $1,000 |
$20,000 | $2,000 |
$30,000 | $2,500 |
$50,000 | $5,000 |
$100,000 | $10,000 |
Feb 23, 2021
Dame Wittgenstein (Study for Bildnis Margaret Stonborough-Wittgenstein)
Signed bottom left (verso), also titled and inscribed 'Band II HR 1,260/52982 Upp' upper right (verso), black chalk on paper
Sheet size: 21 5/8 x 13 1/2 in. (54.9 x 34.3cm)
Executed in 1904-1905.
PROVENANCE:
Galerie Würthle, Vienna, Austria.
Acquired directly from the above on April 17, 1985.
Private Collection, United States.
Sotheby's, London, sale of February 4, 2004, lot 473.
Acquired directly from the above sale.
The Forbes Collection, Florida.
LITERATURE:
Alice Strobl, Gustav Klimt, Die Zeichnungen, 1904-1912, NOTE:
We wish to thank Ms. Marian Bisanz-Prattek for confirming the authenticity of the present work, and for her kind assistance in cataloguing it.
The present work belongs to a series of approximately 20 preparatory drawings Klimt executed over a period of one year, for the completion of his famous Portrait of Margaret Stonborough-Wittgenstein (1905), now in the Neue Pinakothek in Munich, Germany. Within this group of studies, Klimt experimented with many techniques such as blue, red, and green crayon, graphite, and black chalk, as illustrated here.
Daughter to Karl Wittgenstein, Margaret Stonborough-Wittgenstein (1882-958) came from one of the most prominent and wealthiest families in Vienna. In 1905, her family commissioned Gustav Klimt, whom the family personally supported, to paint a portrait of her in a wedding dress, so as to celebrate her future marriage to the wealthy American entrepreneur, Jerome Stonborough.
Like other portraits completed around the same time, including the one of Sonja Knips (in the Belvedere Collection), Klimt depicts Margaret in a long, elegant silk dress. In the original canvas, she is portrayed against an abstract, geometric background that is reminiscent of Josef Hoffmann’s and Dagobert Peche’s elaborate architectural interiors. Margaret’s dress appears more complex than the one worn by other models, the bare shoulders and intertwined lace evoking a sensual attitude far away from the reform style dresses in vogue at the time. Although the drawing does not feature the elaborate background we know from the final composition, the work conveys the same monumentality and majesty often associated with an official state portrait, and which Klimt borrowed from the many Japanese woodcuts, Byzantine mosaics and Greek frontispieces he studied in Vienna’s museums. Stripped from her decorum, Margaret Stonborough-Wittgenstein stands as an ethereal apparition, a floating ghost with a hypnotizing and haughty gaze that captures, and forever locks the viewer’s eye.
No lot may be removed from Freeman’s premises until the buyer has paid in full the purchase price therefor including Buyer’s Premium or has satisfied such terms that Freeman’s, in its sole discretion, shall require. Subject to the foregoing, all Property shall be paid for and removed by the buyer at his/ her expense within ten (10) days of sale and, if not so removed, may be sold by Freeman’s, or sent by Freeman’s to a third-party storage facility, at the sole risk and charge of the buyer(s), and Freeman’s may prohibit the buyer from participating, directly or indirectly, as a bidder or buyer in any future sale or sales. In addition to other remedies available to Freeman’s by law, Freeman’s reserves the right to impose a late charge of 1.5% per month of the total purchase price on any balance remaining ten (10) days after the day of sale. If Property is not removed by the buyer within ten (10) days, a handling charge of 2% of the total purchase price per month from the tenth day after the sale until removal by the buyer shall be payable to Freeman’s by the buyer. Freeman’s will not be responsible for any loss, damage, theft, or otherwise responsible for any goods left in Freeman’s possession after ten (10) days. If the foregoing conditions or any applicable provisions of law are not complied with, in addition to other remedies available to Freeman’s and the Consignor (including without limitation the right to hold the buyer(s) liable for the bid price) Freeman’s, at its option, may either cancel the sale, retaining as liquidated damages all payments made by the buyer(s), or resell the property. In such event, the buyer(s) shall remain liable for any deficiency in the original purchase price and will also be responsible for all costs, including warehousing, the expense of the ultimate sale, and Freeman’s commission at its regular rates together with all related and incidental charges, including legal fees. Payment is a precondition to removal. Payment shall be by cash, certified check or similar bank draft, or any other method approved by Freeman’s. Checks will not be deemed to constitute payment until cleared. Any exceptions must be made upon Freeman’s written approval of credit prior to sale. In addition, a defaulting buyer will be deemed to have granted and assigned to Freeman’s, a continuing security interest of first priority in any property or money of, or owing to such buyer in Freeman’s possession, and Freeman’s may retain and apply such property or money as collateral security for the obligations due to Freeman’s. Freeman’s shall have all of the rights accorded a secured party under the Pennsylvania Uniform Commercial Code.