WOMEN-MUSES OF ARTISTS

Throughout history, many artists have made women the heroines of their works. Women were supposed to be objects of desire as well as sources of inspiration. For centuries, they have inspired painters, sculptors, and poets, personifying perfect beauty. They were goddesses and muses. Our auction dedicated to the art of the old masters includes a special section devoted to women-artists' muses.

The fourteen unique depictions date from the 17th to the 20th centuries, thus representing a wide range of styles. The collection begins with Peter Paul Rubens' remarkably realistic "Portrait of a Lady" and ends with an avant-garde spherical image by Bolesław Biegas. Portraits of women are also included in the latter section of the catalog, showing a wide range of women's representations, such as sublime nudes, sensual visages, and atmospheric genre scenes.
 

Each era favored different beauty standards, unique to that time period. Regardless of fashion trends and stylistic transformations, women have always been portrayed as characters with strong personalities and distinct traits. However, one question remains unanswered. Who exactly were the muses? According to Greek mythology, there were nine of them. The Muses were known as patrons of art and science. It is said that they lived on Mount Parnassos, which was also the site of Apollo's cult, their divine leader. In a sense, the very idea of a female model as a muse puts a woman on a pedestal. It is thus worthwhile to analyze the contexts in which the artists put their characters, and the outstanding works of European painting available in our offer may serve you as a field for research.

Without a doubt, portraiture is a genre deeply rooted in this tradition. The previously mentioned masterpiece by Peter Paul Rubens belongs to the category of representative, pompous portraits, just like this sophisticated and elegant painting by Giovanni Battista Lampi. These two world-class paintings are outstanding examples of mastery and attention to detail, both of which are highly valued in modern art. Many details, such as jewelry or decorative embroidery on the dress, can be seen in the painting by the Baroque master. The same can be said for the work by the afore-mentioned Italian artist. In this case, the author was intent on masterfully rendering the texture of various materials. Our auction offer also includes an extremely interesting work by Olga Boznańska titled "Study of a Young Girl in Black". The portrait was created around 1900, when the artist was already living in Paris. Her studio, located at 49 Boulevard Montparnasse, served as a popular spot for Parisian bohemia. Boznańska was well-known in these circles, and as a result, she received numerous commissions for paintings of well-known figures in the French capital.
 

Our offer also includes sensual nudes. A number of artists created erotic paintings of naked women. Only a few, however, were able to fully capture the ephemeral nature of the model's body without resorting to unnecessary bluntness. Franciszek Murko was an undisputed master of nudes in Polish art. His picture "Hetera," which is featured in our catalog, testifies to the above statement. The portrait depicts a true fin de siècle femme fatale. It stands in stark contrast to the works by Moses Kisling, a representative of the Paris School. His nudes are maintained in a subtle color range, expressing the artist's deep reflection not only on the model's physiognomy and body but, more importantly, on her soul. Another interesting work is an intimate nude of a girl lying in sheets. Wojciech Weiss, the author of the painting, was known as an outstanding portraitist of women during the interwar period. He created a number of similar representations in his Krakow studio.
 

The motif of motherhood is another great theme in which women always play the main characters. We are pleased to present you with one of the iconic works by a great artist at our next auction on 17 March. After all, who understands a woman better than someone who draws on her own experiences and reflections? The artist in question is Mela Muter. "Motherhood" was created in 1924 as a result of the painter's dramatic personal experiences. Her only beloved son died that year. It is difficult to specify the exact location where the canvas was created, but it clearly depicts grief and bitterness. The portrayed mother is a strong woman, however, her fate has put her through an ordeal.