Mihael Stroy
Portrait of a Lady in a Red Armchair (Ana Sermage), 1839
oil on canvas
95 x 77 cm
MG-48
Mihael Stroy (Ljubno, 1803 – Ljubljana, 1871) was the most prominent Slovenian painter in the first half of the 19th century and a key figure within the Central European artistic milieu. After completing his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, he visited Zagreb in 1830 during his travels and remained there until 1841. He was active in artistic circles that embraced Neoclassicism, Romanticism, and the Biedermeier style. Stroy primarily painted portraits of public figures and distinguished citizens, capturing the era’s lifestyle and aesthetics, alongside religious and genre scenes. His body of work is particularly noted for his portraits of women, in which he demonstrated exceptional psychological insight. These portraits are characterised by their elegance and are often set in romantic surroundings that enhance their sophistication.
The 1839 painting Portrait of a Lady in a Red Armchair (Ana Sermage) reflects the tradition of representative portraits, showing women at the height of contemporary fashion and elegance. It depicts a middle-aged woman seated in a red armchair, her gaze fixed directly at the observer. She is dressed in a black, low-cut gown, with her hair styled in long curls adorned with a delicate scarf. A cashmere shawl in shades of blue and red is gracefully draped around her waist and across her lap. Her relaxed posture, along with her white gloves and an abundance of jewellery, draws particular attention. The striking use of colour contrasts and the refined characterisation of the subject establish this portrait as one of the finest works from the Slovenian artist’s Zagreb period.
Text: Luciana Fuks, trainee curator at the National Museum of Modern Art © National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb
Translated by Robertina Tomić
Photo: Goran Vranić © National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb