112355

DESTROYED

RECTO

Preparatory work

Irma Fürstin zu Fürstenberg, née Countess Schönborn-Buchheim 1899

Standing three-quarter length to the left, head turned in three-quarter profile, wearing an off-the-shoulder ball gown with lace trim around the shoulders, a diadem and a necklace just visible

Oil on board, 96.5 x 71.1 cm (38 x 28 in.)

Sitters’ Book I, f. 3: Irma Fürstin zu Fürstenberg / 26. März 1899 

Sitters’ Book I, f. 28: Irma Fürstin zu Fürstenberg / 24/7 1899.

Studio Inventory, p. 19 (113): Lady, three quarter face, green dress tiara with a green centre

According to a letter to his friend and mentor Elek Lippich [112171] de László abandoned his first three-quarter length portrait of Fürstin Irma zu Fürstenberg [113138] as he was dissatisfied with the pose. The verso [112356] is a head study which suggests the pose may have had the sitter turned towards the viewer and with her head in three-quarter profile to the right. The composition of the present portrait is the same as the finished picture [5297] but differs in the colour of the dress which the artist changed from green to blue.

De László included a drawing [112949] of the portrait in his letter to Lippich, 12 April 1899, which suggests this preparatory work must have been completed before that date.

For biographical notes on the sitter see [5297].

PROVENANCE:

In the possession of the artist on his death;

Destroyed in accordance with the terms of the artist’s will

LITERATURE:

•NSzL150-0072, letter from de László to Elek Lippich, 12 April 1899, Vienna

BS 2018