Graphite

Signed with the artist’s initials (lower left hand corner)

261 x 210 mm. (10 x 8 in.)

Frantz Schwartz was a Danish painter, draughtsman and etcher who was a pupil at the Academy in Copenhagen. His first exhibition was in 1874 at the age of twenty-four. One of his most important works is the ceiling painting in the Fredericksborg Museum, Copenhagen. Others ceilings he worked on are in Carlsberg Giyptoteket, also in Copenhagen. He also painted an altarpiece in Saint Lucas Church. Schwartz was head of the Copenhagen Art School, and on his death donated his fortune to a fund for artists, which was named after him. Schwartzs extensive activity as an engraver included mainly genre subjects, with occasional biblical scenes. A large corpus of his engraved work was recently donated to the British Museum by the Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen. There are two prints also in the Museums collection1.

These two drawings form part of a group of drawings which share the same provenance, two of which have been recently purchased by the Statens Museum for Kunst, which show a clear example of his ability as a draughtsman, and shows how his style varied. The graphite drawings show great sensitivity and skill. The large drawing of two seated women is almost impressionistic in its handling of the chalk. The present group of drawings come from two auctions held after the artists death, one in December 1917 the other in May 1918.

1.Portrait of a Young Girl (1989-5-13-51) and A Seated Young Girl (1989-5-13-52). For details of Schwartzs engraved work see, S. Mller, F. Schwartz som raderer, Kunst, 1904.