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Lot Essay
Henri Schlesinger is best known for his portraits and genre pictures. He was born in Frankfurt and later became a naturalized Frenchman, ending his life in Neuilly-on-Seine. He pursued his training as an artist at the Viennese Academy and eventually went on to exhibit successfully at the salons. The recipient of a bronze and a silver medal, he was also bestowed with the Legion d'Honneur.
The present work is a charming example of the subjects favoured by Schlesinger. The scene depicts a group of fashionable figures engaged in narrative interaction surrounding a print. The two ladies turn away in modesty and giggle at its content, while the gentleman leans over them. The elegant interior, opulent and luxurious, is depicted masterfully by the artist through close attention to detail and texture. Other paintings by the artist hang in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna and in the Palace of Versailles.
The present work is a charming example of the subjects favoured by Schlesinger. The scene depicts a group of fashionable figures engaged in narrative interaction surrounding a print. The two ladies turn away in modesty and giggle at its content, while the gentleman leans over them. The elegant interior, opulent and luxurious, is depicted masterfully by the artist through close attention to detail and texture. Other paintings by the artist hang in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna and in the Palace of Versailles.