Artwork
The Artist with his Daughter Gabriel
The Artist with his Daughter Gabriel is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Franz von Lenbach. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Hungarian National Gallery. Created in 1900, this oil painting presents a mature man cradling an infant daughter named Gabriel.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1900, this oil painting presents a mature man cradling an infant daughter named Gabriel. The composition places the figures against a dim, indistinct backdrop, emphasizing the intimate interaction between father and child. The work is part of the collection of the Hungarian National Gallery, where it is displayed among other late‑19th‑century European portraits.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, an elderly man with a white beard and spectacles, holds his newborn daughter close, his hands enveloping her small torso. Both faces are rendered with careful attention to wrinkles and delicate features, conveying a sense of paternal affection and the quiet gravity of family bonds at the turn of the century.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting employs a loose, Impressionist brushwork that softens the surrounding darkness while preserving fine detail on the subjects’ faces and hands. The contrast between the sharply defined figures and the blurred background creates depth, and the subtle modulation of light highlights the textures of the man's jacket and the baby's dress.
History & Provenance
The work was produced by Franz von Lenbach, a German portraitist renowned for his depictions of aristocratic clientele. After its creation, the painting entered the holdings of the Hungarian National Gallery, where it remains a representative example of Lenbach’s later, more intimate oeuvre.
Artist & collection
Artist
Franz Seraph Lenbach, after 1882, Ritter von Lenbach (13 December 1836 – 6 May 1904), was a German painter known primarily for his portraits of prominent personalities from the nobility, the arts, and industry.
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