A Roman couple ca. 1910

Bust portrait of a couple in antique (roman) style. Male portrait on the right: in side view, head and gaze directed to the left, wearing a light toga with a dark coverlet, the short hair strongly waved, around the neck a pearl necklace. Portrait of lady on the left: Front view, head turned slightly to the right, looking at the man. She wears a light-colored dress with a rectangular neckline, over it a light-colored coverlet, the dark hair is pinned up.

JQAW# P_1910_090
Probably oil on canvas, rondo, dimensions unknown., but possibly about 80 cm diameter
Signature: John Quincy Ɑdams
Work lost.
B/W image: Künstlerhaus archive, Vienna.

This unusual double portrait is documented only by a reproduction from the archive of the Vienna Künstlerhaus. Information on the sitters is completely missing, although it would be particularly interesting to know who in turn-of-the-century Vienna had themselves portrayed by Adams as a Roman couple in a mode of representation otherwise known only from Roman tombstones. (A genre representation, as known from Adams' decorative paintings, e.g. for the Künstlerhaus balls, seems unlikely - rondo, elaborate frame). Also noteworthy is the special frame with sea-motifs in the corner medallions. Adams also used identical frames in the portrait of Ida Kohn Nauss ca.1907 and in the portrait of a girl (presumably Sophie von Hohenberg) ca. 1912. This suggests a dating around 1910.

Cross-references

Exhibited

Literature

APH, catalog raisonné JQA 1995, p. 242, cat.#209, fig.#142.

Provenance

Unknown.
Work lost.