Lot 93: A portrait of May Fleishhacker 44 1/2 x 42 1/4in (113 x 107.3cm)

A portrait of May Fleishhacker signed and dated 'F. Beltran Masses / 1925' (lower left) oil on canvas 44 1/2 x 42 1/4in (113 x 107.3cm)

113 x 107.3cm

Inscribed on the stretcher: Beltran Masses 83 Rue de la Tour (16) Paris' May Belle Greenbaum was born in 1884 in San Francisco where her father Sigmund Greenbaum was involved in the banking world of the prosperous city. She married Herbert Fleishhacker, one of the top financiers of his day, in 1905 and they both enjoyed their roles as leading philanthropists and society figures of San Francisco. Beltran Masses was best known as a painter of seductive images of women. His career soon became international and his work was sought out by European royalty, famous actors and dancers, and by leaders of high society. In the present picture the artist has portrayed May Fleishhacker confidently looking out into the world, posed before the famous 'Beltran blue' background, her pearls in casual disarray, suggesting a sensuality unusual for her time. We are grateful to Antonia Salom (www.beltranmasses.com) for confirming the attribution to Federico Beltran Masses on the basis of photographs. This painting will be included in her forthcoming catalogue raisonné of the works of Beltran Masses.