Louis Picard
Ira Aldridge in Taras Shevchenko’s Studio
Oil on academy board. 2.8 x 23cm (8.5 x 9 in).
Estimate: € 8000-12 000

Munich, 11 June 2009, (kk) - The Louis Picard painting "Ira Aldridge in Taras Shevchenko’s Studio" is bound to cause a sensation. Painted around 1900, the portrait will go under the hammer at the Ketterer Kunst Old Masters and Art of the 19th Century auction as the spectacular prelude to the four Welcome Auctions to be held on 19 and 20 June 2009 at Ketterer Kunst in Munich.

There was no hint that celebrities might be concerned when the Louis Picard paint was consigned under its original title "Künstler und Sammler im Atelier" ["Artist and Collector in a Studio"]. Thorough research conducted by Ketterer Kunst has identified the persons portrayed as the Ukrainian national poet Taras Shevchenko, who was critical of the Tsarist regime, and the internationally renowned African-American actor Ira Aldridge, who emigrated to England, where he played numerous Shakespearean leading roles, including Othello. The work carries an estimate of € 8000-12 000.
"I am really delighted that, with our research, we have been able to contribute in a small way to ensuring that the significance to cultural history of this valuable work is recognised", thus Robert Ketterer, auctioneer and owner of Ketterer Kunst.