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Antonín Slavíček (1870–1910) Spring

oil on canvas
around 1897
74 × 55 cm
frame

Starting price2,800,000 CZK Hammer price2,800,000 CZK
Auction 84th, Lot 107 This work of exceptional quality is of great value both from a historical point of view as well as an artistic one, and is of considerable interest to collectors, as it reveals the essence of the early stages of the artist's work. It shows his realistic approach to the landscape, which was soon to be replaced at the end of the century by his unmistakable style characterized by the use of color spots, vibrations and internal dynamics evoking constant movement and swirling. Antonín Slavíček was always fascinated by the seasons, whose elusiveness he managed to capture authentically. This is true for the painting bearing the name Spring, which looks almost like a postcard with a meandering stream lined with slender trees revealing the previous, slowly passing season. Though one can feel the impatient anticipation of spring in the picture, the artist conveys a feeling of calm rhythm through the composition itself.  This is created by a sophisticated combination of the vertical trees, the diagonal of the stream and the horizontal line of the dominant sky occupying the entire half of the scene. In the left corner of the painting is a dedication to professor Fr. Michl, a prominent surgeon from Prague and professor of surgery at the Czech Medical Faculty (“To the Honorable Professor Fr. Michl as a modest proof of my deep respect, A. Slavíček”). The authenticity and high value of the work is confirmed by its publication in the inventories of the author's work (Hovorková, M. / Karlíková, L .: Antonín Slavíček, 1870–1910, Prague 1965, inventory number 19, reproduction; Tomeš, J .: Antonín Slavíček, Prague 1966, cat. no. 38, listed under the name Forest from Třemošnice) and other sources (retrospective in Prague Castle Riding School, September – November 1961, cat. . 14, reproduction p. 35). The picture was first reproduced in the magazine Rozhledy, volume 6, July 15, 1896–1897, issue 20, p. 960a. Assesed during consultations by prof. R. Prahl, CSc., and prof. J. Zemina. Expertise by PhDr. K. Srp attached (cit: “[…] The discovery of this picture by Slavíček is exceptionally valuable, as it illustrates his early realistic approach, which it concludes if we accept Tomeš's more plausible dating or on the contrary, marks its start if we consider the dating by a team of experts from the circle of Jiří Kotalík. In both cases the picture has an important place in Slavíček's work […] ”). This work of exceptional quality is of great value both from a historical point of view as well as an artistic one, and is of considerable interest to collectors, as it reveals the essence of the early stages of the artist's work. It shows his realistic approach to the landscape, which was soon to be replaced at the end of the century by his unmistakable style characterized by the use of color spots, vibrations and internal dynamics evoking constant movement and swirling. Antonín Slavíček was always fascinated by the seasons, whose elusiveness he managed to capture authentically. This is true for the painting bearing the name Spring, which looks almost like a postcard with a meandering stream lined with slender trees revealing the previous, slowly passing season. Though one can feel the impatient anticipation of spring in the picture, the artist conveys a feeling of calm rhythm through the composition itself.  This is created by a sophisticated combination of the vertical trees, the diagonal of the stream and the horizontal line of the dominant sky occupying the entire half of the scene. In the left corner of the painting is a dedication to professor Fr. Michl, a prominent surgeon from Prague and professor of surgery at the Czech Medical Faculty (“To the Honorable Professor Fr. Michl as a modest proof of my deep respect, A. Slavíček”). The authenticity and high value of the work is confirmed by its publication in the inventories of the author's work (Hovorková, M. / Karlíková, L .: Antonín Slavíček, 1870–1910, Prague 1965, inventory number 19, reproduction; Tomeš, J .: Antonín Slavíček, Prague 1966, cat. no. 38, listed under the name Forest from Třemošnice) and other sources (retrospective in Prague Castle Riding School, September – November 1961, cat. . 14, reproduction p. 35). The picture was first reproduced in the magazine Rozhledy, volume 6, July 15, 1896–1897, issue 20, p. 960a. Assesed during consultations by prof. R. Prahl, CSc., and prof. J. Zemina. Expertise by PhDr. K. Srp attached (cit: “[…] The discovery of this picture by Slavíček is exceptionally valuable, as it illustrates his early realistic approach, which it concludes if we accept Tomeš's more plausible dating or on the contrary, marks its start if we consider the dating by a team of experts from the circle of Jiří Kotalík. In both cases the picture has an important place in Slavíček's work […] ”). 
Auction day 91
Auction day 91
Auction day 91
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