(Salzburg 1840–1884 Vienna)
Portrait of Alfred Wagner at the Age of Four, circa 1868/69, oil on canvas, 117.5 x 95.5 cm, framed, (Rei)

Letter of authenticity issued by Dr. Gerbert Frodl, dated January 2014, is available.

Excerpt from the letter of authenticity issued by Dr. Gerbert Frodl: (…)
the painting style and brushstrokes are deliberate and varied: the precise rendition of the ornamentation contrasts with the masterly and generous depiction of the cushion and white drapery. (…) The combination of these two diverging styles of painting is as typical of the painter as the (even observable in the work’s unfinished state) typecasting of the child’s face. (…)

Genesis
Alexander (Sàndor) von Wagner (1838-1919) was one of Budapest’s best known artists of the period, and many of his works are exhibited in institutions including the State Gallery in Budapest.

He was a member of a mid-19th century group of artists in Munich to which Makart, Gregorovius, Schwind, Pacci and Piloti with whom he shared his studio. Wagner and Makart became friends and thus Makart painted Alexander’s son, Alfred Wagner.

An unfinished work by Makart is unusual in that Makart, the ‘Malerfürst’, never particularly liked unfinished works being made public. That this is the case here is explained by the personal relationship and friendship between Wagner and Makart.

Provenance:
Gift from Hans Makart to Alexander Wagner
By descent to his daughter Berta Seitz, born Wagner
By descent to her son Robert Seitz
By descent to his son Rudolph Seitz, adopted by his great-uncle Baron von Bennigsen
By descent to his life companion Christa Countess of Castell-Castell.