1429

$355.50

AUGUST BENZIGER (American 1867-1935) FULL LENGTH PORTRAIT OF A LADY IN A WHITE GOWN.

Oil 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 (1,000-1,500) – Lot 1429

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Auction: Fine Art, Asian & Antiques - August 2015

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Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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