A charming oval portrait of a young woman by Émile Eisman-Semenowsky. The woman, who is dressed in traditional costume of Balkan origin, is shown wearing a ribbon headdress decorated with gold coins over flowing hair. A matching gold coin necklace with a gold crescent is depicted around her neck, whilst at her ears can be seen gold hoops. The model bears a striking similarity to those who appear in other works by the artist and could well be one in the same.

Émile Eisman-Semenowsky was born Emile Eismann on 19 September, 1853 in St Petersburg, Russia to Jean Eismann and Marie Semenovoski. He studied art outside his native country and in the early 1880’s moved to Paris. Whilst there, he became an assistant to the Belgian artist Jan Van Beers (1852-1927). Under Van Beers he helped produced portraits, mostly of fashionable women which were then finished off by Van Beers.

After working for him for a number of years he left to pursue a career on his own and started specialising in romantic Oriental style portraits aimed at the Parisian middle class. Many of his works featured young women in traditional costume such as this lovely example. As well as portraits, he also painted a number of genre and historical scenes.

Eisman-Semenowsky began exhibiting in Paris in 1883 and also at other cities in France including Strasbourg in 1884 and Grenoble in 1904. As well as exhibiting in France, he also exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1900 with works entitled Spring Time and After the Dance.

His works are highly popular and can be found in many private and public art collections including the Manchester City Art Gallery.

© Benton Fine Art