Lot 177: John Alberts O/C Portrait of a Lady with Gloved Hand

John Bernard Alberts, Jr. (Kentucky, 1886-1931), oil on canvas portrait of a dark-haired lady wearing a white evening gown and wrap, seated in an elaborate chair with her back partially turned to the viewer. One elbow rests on the lion-carved arm of the chair, and her gloved hand is raised toward her face, which appears in profile—signed “J.B. Alberts” lower right with partial date. Later molded wood frame with gilt beaded edges. Sight: 27 5/8 in. H x 21 1/2 in. W. Framed: 32 in. H x 25 3/4 in. W. Biography: Louisville-born John Alberts attended the Cincinnati Art Academy, where he was mentored by Frank Duvenek, then the Boston Academy of Fine Arts, where he studied with Edmund Tarbell and Frank Benson. He also spent a year in Europe, where he was heavily influenced by 16th-century Dutch artists. Back in Kentucky, Alberts shared a studio with Paul Plaschke and became a sought-after painter of portraits and designer of stained glass windows. However, he became ill during his army service in World War I and was left bedridden until his death at age 45. His extant works are rare; some can be found in the collections of the Filson Historical Society and the Greenville County, SC, Museum of Art. (Sources: Alberts’s obituary, The Courier Journal Aug. 25, 1931; The Johnson Collection). 

PROVENANCE: By descent in the family of the artist. 

CONDITION: Retouch to several areas of paint exfoliation throughout, particularly to lower corners (see UV light photographs). Some fine craquelure. Canvas needs restretching; some craquelure and buckling to canvas upper left corner. Some fine white spatter to surface, lower right.