Eugen von Blaas

(Albano 1843–1931 Venice)
Semper Vivit Amor, signed E. de Blaas, oil on canvas, 236 x 131 cm, unframed
Provenance:
Private Collection, Italy.

We are grateful to Dr. Antonella Bellin for kindly confirming the authenticity on the basis of a high-resolution photograph.

The present lot depicts a young widow carrying a baby in her arms. She is guiding a young girl through the cemetery on All Souls Day, delivering a wreath to a grave. The title of the painting reminds us that “love lives forever”. Von Blaas was deeply religious, and painted religious subjects as the present lot throughout his career.

Another version of the same subject is depicted in Antonella Bellin “I De Blaas. Una dinastia di pittori tra Vienna e Venezia”, p. 205. The present painting is believed to be the first version and might also be related to a sketch, "Frau mit Kindern", listed in Thomas Wassibauer, Eugen von Blass, Das Werk, 2005, p. 149, no. 252.

Von Blaas trained at the Academy of Venice, where he then settled permanently. There he earned the sobriquet “painter of Venetian beauties”. His subjects of beautiful Venetian women at work and in the company of admiring suitors were sought after by nineteenth century tourists who found in these compositions the perfect souvenir.