The photos of the lot are informative and indicative, and cannot provide a highly detailed view of the object from all angles. We recommend a careful physical inspection of the lot before bidding.
The photos of the lot are informative and indicative, and cannot provide a highly detailed view of the object from all angles. We recommend a careful physical inspection of the lot before bidding.
Nikola Mihailov was one of Ivan Mrkvichka's first students at the First Sofia Boys' High School. He is originally from the town of Shumen, but in 1893 the Mihailov family settled in Sofia. Mrkvichka's academic style is reflected in the work of Nikola Mihailov, but the artist had the strongest influence from his studies in Munich - first in the private studios of Nikolaos Vokos and Henrich Knir in 1895 - 1896, and later with a scholarship from the prince (at that time) Ferdinand, at the Munich Art Academy under Professors Otto Seitz and Alexander von Wagner. Mihailov also specialized in Paris and London, he also lives in Munich, where he will open an art school. The artist indulged in his desire to develop as a portraitist at a high level and trully succeeded. In Bulgaria, he took on the position of an artist of the Ministry of Education, as well as a court artist. He painted numerous portraits of ministers, other dignitaries, and the entire royal family. Mihailov is the closest artist to Tsar Ferdinand and Tsar Boris, and undoubtedly one of the most emblematic and imposing painter of portraits. The artist is also the author of the portraits of public figures, poets and writers such as Ivan Vazov, Pencho Slaveykov, Kiril Krastev and others. Nikola Mihailov was an active participant in the artistic and cultural life in Sofia, but nevertheless left the country in 1910 and worked successfully as a portraitist in Europe, Australia, North and South America. He is the author of portraits of Wilhelm II, Adolf Hitler, Mussolini and other historical figures. Mihailov became a highly valued portraitist, as we can see though the very good press reviews of his exhibitions, as well as the fact that he was appointed by more and more aristocratic and wealthy families. The period between the two world wars was very successful for him. He painted many portraits, mostly figures who appear to have an artistocratic background, male portraits who look imposing, while females are extremely gentle and delicate. In children's portraits, the artist also manages to convey the character of the image, as well as depicting them on the canvas with their favorite childhood toy, pet or in their preferred activity. At the end of the 1930s and the beginning of the 1940s, Nikola Mihailov did not put so much emphasis on recreating a detailed background, in contrast to the previous periods, where he clearly put a lot of effort into the precise representation of a selected landscape or interior. But the artist keeps using his skills into emphasizing the characteristic features of the portraits, as well as the attention to clothes and hairstyles. In the presented work "The Girl in the Pink Dress", from 1940, we see the typical composition for children's portraits - a full-length portrait, a well-dressed little girl, with blond curls and holding her favorite teddy in her arms. In our artwork, the figure of the child is in the center of the composition, dressed in a formal dress, with a missed doll on the ground, which suggests the child's playfullness. Typical for the portrait genre, the characteristic external features of the portraits are emphasized. In the children's portraits, Mihailov clearly suggest the aristocratic typolofy of his characters, while not fogetting about the unforced image of childhood. (A.M.)
1928, Nikola Mihailov, Sofia, State Printing Office
Dimensions
width 100 cm, height 120 cm
Description
oil on canvas, signed and dated bottom left, in black, "Nic. Michailow, 1940"
Lot.notes
on the back, written in black, "Monika Wagner"
Dating
1940
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For clarifications regarding the bidding procedure, hammer price costs, guarantee, payment, and collection terms for the winning lot, we recommend carefully reading/re-reading the Bidding Regulations.
For additional information regarding the lot and the auction, please contact the Art Consultants Department.
Detalii
Nikola Mihailov was one of Ivan Mrkvichka's first students at the First Sofia Boys' High School. He is originally from the town of Shumen, but in 1893 the Mihailov family settled in Sofia. Mrkvichka's academic style is reflected in the work of Nikola Mihailov, but the artist had the strongest influence from his studies in Munich - first in the private studios of Nikolaos Vokos and Henrich Knir in 1895 - 1896, and later with a scholarship from the prince (at that time) Ferdinand, at the Munich Art Academy under Professors Otto Seitz and Alexander von Wagner. Mihailov also specialized in Paris and London, he also lives in Munich, where he will open an art school. The artist indulged in his desire to develop as a portraitist at a high level and trully succeeded. In Bulgaria, he took on the position of an artist of the Ministry of Education, as well as a court artist. He painted numerous portraits of ministers, other dignitaries, and the entire royal family. Mihailov is the closest artist to Tsar Ferdinand and Tsar Boris, and undoubtedly one of the most emblematic and imposing painter of portraits. The artist is also the author of the portraits of public figures, poets and writers such as Ivan Vazov, Pencho Slaveykov, Kiril Krastev and others. Nikola Mihailov was an active participant in the artistic and cultural life in Sofia, but nevertheless left the country in 1910 and worked successfully as a portraitist in Europe, Australia, North and South America. He is the author of portraits of Wilhelm II, Adolf Hitler, Mussolini and other historical figures. Mihailov became a highly valued portraitist, as we can see though the very good press reviews of his exhibitions, as well as the fact that he was appointed by more and more aristocratic and wealthy families. The period between the two world wars was very successful for him. He painted many portraits, mostly figures who appear to have an artistocratic background, male portraits who look imposing, while females are extremely gentle and delicate. In children's portraits, the artist also manages to convey the character of the image, as well as depicting them on the canvas with their favorite childhood toy, pet or in their preferred activity. At the end of the 1930s and the beginning of the 1940s, Nikola Mihailov did not put so much emphasis on recreating a detailed background, in contrast to the previous periods, where he clearly put a lot of effort into the precise representation of a selected landscape or interior. But the artist keeps using his skills into emphasizing the characteristic features of the portraits, as well as the attention to clothes and hairstyles. In the presented work "The Girl in the Pink Dress", from 1940, we see the typical composition for children's portraits - a full-length portrait, a well-dressed little girl, with blond curls and holding her favorite teddy in her arms. In our artwork, the figure of the child is in the center of the composition, dressed in a formal dress, with a missed doll on the ground, which suggests the child's playfullness. Typical for the portrait genre, the characteristic external features of the portraits are emphasized. In the children's portraits, Mihailov clearly suggest the aristocratic typolofy of his characters, while not fogetting about the unforced image of childhood. (A.M.)
1928, Nikola Mihailov, Sofia, State Printing Office
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For clarifications regarding the bidding procedure, hammer price costs, guarantee, payment, and collection terms for the winning lot, we recommend carefully reading/re-reading the Bidding Regulations.
For additional information regarding the lot and the auction, please contact the Art Consultants Department.
Dimensions
width 100 cm, height 120 cm
Description
oil on canvas, signed and dated bottom left, in black, "Nic. Michailow, 1940"
