Lot 396: Catherine the Great and Tsar Peter III

Sparre Axel C. A., Västra Ed 1839 - Östra Eneby 1910, Catherine the Great and Tsar Peter III, Oil/canvas, 220 x 147 cm, lo. le. sign. a. dat. Axel Sparre 1899, on the reverse long Swedish inscription, on the stretcher inventory no. 'Tidö No. 240', partially craquelure. - The painting was made for Tidö castle in Sweden after the painting of Rosina Matthieu (1748-1795) in castle Gripsholm. - Swedish history a. figure painter. S. began pursuing a military career. He started studying painting at the Stockholm academy in 1866, one year later he moved to Düsseldorf where F. Fagerlin was his teacher at the academy. In 1875 he quit military service, 1876-78 he studied in Düsseldorf again, this time under W. Sohn. Thereafter he continued his studies at the Académie Julian in Paris under Courtois. - Lit.: Thieme-Becker.