.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Franz von Lenbach was a celebrated artist known particularly for his portraits. He portrayed a number of important historical figures including the British Prime Minister William Gladstone (1809 - 1898) and the German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898), whom he is said to have portrayed over 100 times. The present sketch is one of a number of portraits of Richard Wagner by the artist.
The drawing was in the collection of Adalbert Parlagi, an Austrian businessman and art collector. Following the Anschluss in 1938, Parlagi and his family fled to London, leaving behind their possessions. They had arranged for the family's belongings, including their art collection, to be shipped to their new home in London, but the shipment was intercepted and the contents confiscated by the Gestapo in November 1940. The seized goods were sold at the Dorotheum in 1941. Parlagi was unable to locate any of the artworks before his death in 1981. In 1982 the present drawing was acquired by the Albertina and later restituted to his heirs in 2022.
The drawing was in the collection of Adalbert Parlagi, an Austrian businessman and art collector. Following the Anschluss in 1938, Parlagi and his family fled to London, leaving behind their possessions. They had arranged for the family's belongings, including their art collection, to be shipped to their new home in London, but the shipment was intercepted and the contents confiscated by the Gestapo in November 1940. The seized goods were sold at the Dorotheum in 1941. Parlagi was unable to locate any of the artworks before his death in 1981. In 1982 the present drawing was acquired by the Albertina and later restituted to his heirs in 2022.