Woman’s Head seen from Behind
Description:
Head of a Woman in a Blue Dress seen from behind, oil on canvas, 16 x 11 inches (40.6 x 27.9 cm). Canvas bears stencilled address of W. Schaus, 204 Fifth Ave, New York., Framed Dimensions 20.25 X 26 Inches.
Location:
Present Whereabouts Unknown
Provenance:
THE JEAN AND GRAHAM DEVOE WILLIFORD CHARITABLE TRUST; Heritage Auctions Design District Annex, 1518 Slocum Street Dallas, TX 75207, Auction 5174, Works from Graham Williford’s Pioneering Collection of American Paintings, May 10, 2014, Lot 70080, as American School. Sold for $687.50 inc. Buyer’s Premium.
The editor accepts that the auctioneer’s attribution is stylistically correct for a picture by Muller-Ury, but Schaus moved from 204 Fifth Avenue in 1907 so it was painted earlier than 1910.
The auctioneers declared: Original unlined canvas. Under UV examination one can see that the painting has been partially cleaned. The dress is cleaned of its older varnish up through the bright highlight on the neck. The background and head retain the older varnish. There is some strengthening in the background to the right side of the head apparently to accentuate the distinction between figure and ground.
