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Václav Špála (1885–1946) Bouquet in a Jug

oil on canvas
1938
bottom right
92 × 60 cm
frame

Starting price1,000,000 CZK Hammer price1,400,000 CZK
Auction 84th, Lot 97 A high-quality example of Špála's favorite theme - which, in addition to still lifes with fruit and landscapes were floral bouquets - is proof of the author's inexhaustible skill in the search for new, original approaches and variations. The scene, createdin the characteristic impasto brushstroke,falls into the period of the late 1930's, during which the artist's relationship to the background and foreground of the composition changed. Since the beginning of the second decade of the 20th century Špála had been constantly working on the use of colours, namely cold blue and warm red, which became significant for his work. He used this colour combination, enriched with tones of yellow, to capture an abundant bouquet of daffodils, daisies, irises and tulips, radiating joy and the fullness of life. He ingeniously placed the vase on the very edge of the lower frame of the canvas, as if it could literally fall out of the painting. His chosen background was a section of countryside with a river. It is not clear whether it is a real landscape or just another one of his paintings, located behind the flowers, which was an element that he liked to use repeatedly. The still life with flowers – a popular and noble theme throughout the history of art – becomes in this presentation a moment of everyday joy.The attractiveness of the work will certainly be underlined by the fact that the first owner of the painting was Jan Hofman, the author of the important book Old Art in Slovakia. The painting has been in the family of the current owner for more than 30 years. The author's original frame. The painting is listed in Špála's list of works under the designation 1108 (25A) Bouquet in a jug, blue, red tulips, daffodils, yellow daisies and purple irises, more clouds at the top, dr. Hofman. The work will be included in the forthcoming monograph by PhDr. K. Srp. Assessed during consultations by prof. J. Zemina and PhDr. J. Machalický. From the attached expertise by PhDr. K. Srp: "[...] We have before us a top artwork, artistically very well-thought-out, whose sensory aspect is full of details, which Špála was able to capture very convincingly [...]". Authorized report by PhDr. M. Kodl attached.
Auction day 91
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Auction day 91
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