Man holding a dagger next to a reclining woman
The drawing represents a man with a dagger and a kneeling woman. The imagery has not been connected to a particular source, but romantic literary and fantastic subjects predominate in Von Holst’s oeuvre, derived from Virgil, Dante, Shakespeare, Victor Hugo, and Goethe.
Von Holst’s precocious talent was recognized by Thomas Lawrence, who bought a drawing from the youth when the latter was ten years old. After taking lessons from Henry Fuseli, Von Holst entered the Royal Academy Schools at the age of fourteen in 1824. Fuseli remained a strong influence stylistically and the works of the two artists have often been confused. In 1959, an album assembled by John Welch Etherington Rolls (1807-1870) appeared at auction containing drawings by both artists, and subsequent research allowed a core group to be securely ascribed to Von Holst, the present sheet among them.
Von Holst’s precocious talent was recognized by Thomas Lawrence, who bought a drawing from the youth when the latter was ten years old. After taking lessons from Henry Fuseli, Von Holst entered the Royal Academy Schools at the age of fourteen in 1824. Fuseli remained a strong influence stylistically and the works of the two artists have often been confused. In 1959, an album assembled by John Welch Etherington Rolls (1807-1870) appeared at auction containing drawings by both artists, and subsequent research allowed a core group to be securely ascribed to Von Holst, the present sheet among them.
Artwork Details
- Title: Man holding a dagger next to a reclining woman
- Artist: Theodor Richard Edward von Holst (British, London 1810–1844 London)
- Date: 1830–44
- Medium: Graphite, red chalk and brush and wash
- Dimensions: Sheet: 8 11/16 × 6 9/16 in. (22.1 × 16.7 cm)
Mount: 9 13/16 × 8 7/16 in. (25 × 21.5 cm) - Classification: Drawings
- Credit Line: Gift of Allen Staley, 2017
- Object Number: 2017.259.4
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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Theodor Richard Edward von Holst
1830–44
Theodor Richard Edward von Holst
1830–44
Theodor Richard Edward von Holst
1844
Theodor Richard Edward von Holst
1830–44
Theodor Richard Edward von Holst
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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