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Old Masters & 19th Century European Art
|
- Sale 6335
Live
| Chicago
Apr 29 | 10:00 AM CDT
Live
| Chicago
Sale 6335
| Chicago
| Chicago
Estimate$10,000 – $15,000
Provenance:
Sold: Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Chicago, March 20-22, 1988, Lot 140
Lot essay:
The present monumental painting depicts a likely fictional performance by the famous Hungarian-Romani violinist Panna Czinka (1711(?)-1772) for Francis II Rákóczi (1676-1735). Rákóczi was a Hungarian nobleman and leader of Rákóczi's War of Independence against the Habsburgs in 1703-1711 as the prince of the Estates Confederated for Liberty of the Kingdom of Hungary. He was also Prince of Transylvania, an Imperial Prince, and a member of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Today he is considered a national hero in Hungary. After his defeat in 1711 by the Habsburg forces, Rákócz settled in 1717 in the town of Tekirdağ, on the Sea of Marmara, upon the invitation of the Ottoman Empire (still at war with the Habsburgs).
Tekirdağ is the probable setting for this en plein air performance, as Rákóczi never returned to Hungary. The prince is depicted in the last year of his life, enjoying the energetic music of Panna Czinka and her musical ensemble. Czinka was born to a Romani family of musicians and her own father was at one time a court musician for Rákóczi. After 1725, Czinka formed a music band with her musician-blacksmith husband and brothers-in-law, and she became famous for skill at the violin. The band toured abroad and was invited to perform in noble houses.
Although it is not known whether Czinka actually performed for Rákóczi, the meeting of the two famous Hungarians in the composition would have stirred patriotic fervor within those who viewed it. In the late 19th to the early 20th centuries, Hungary was then part of the Austria-Hungary Empire, and experienced accelerated industrialization and urbanization, which led to rapid economic growth. Especially Budapest, on which the main railway lines converged, witnessed a fantastic boom during this time, with over half a million inhabitants, and new, mighty public buildings, foremost among them the Houses of Parliament. Both Czinka and Rákóczi would have represented the strong, national pride that many of the Empire may have felt during this period of vital Hungarian prosperity.
Framed: 75 1/4 x 108 1/2 x 4 inches.
Moderate deposits of surface dirt and dust; canvas is not lined; network of craquelures throughout the surface; an approximately 3 x 2 inch area of inpainting along the upper left edge, as well as an additional approximately 3 x 1 inch area of inpainting to the right of the right-most man, both visible under normal viewing conditions; two paint losses to the right-most man's hat and a paint loss to the right of his sword; a thin horizontal line of paint loss in the center, through the top of the tent in the background; four pinpoint punctures through the center right of the canvas, only visible from the verso; scattered areas of overcleaning, including within the woman violinist's face; a thin horizontal abrasion through the center of the cello in the center left; frame abrasions along all edges. Under UV light: the aforementioned areas of inpainting fluoresce; strokes of inpainting within the standing man's jacket; strokes of inpainting to the hairline of the woman violinist and along her nose; additional minor spots of inpainting in scattered areas. Additional images available upon request.
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Madalina Lazen
VP Head of Department, Old Masters & 19th Century European Art
