Hans Jakob Oeri Drawing Soars
March 22 2024
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from the recent Christie's Drawings sale in Paris that the following double portrait soared past its estimate two days ago. Hans Jakob Oeri's Double Portrait of Ludwig Schulthess-Kaufmann et Emil Schulthess-Schulthess realised an impressive €226,800 over its €15,000 - €25,000 estimate.
According to the catalogue note:
Born in Zurich, the brothers depicted here are depicted in their daily lives, engaged in two activities that are central to the family’s interests. The flowers in the foreground will be dried between the pages of a book held by one of the brothers, probably Emil. The reference to botany refers to the father, Leonhard Schulthess-Nüscheler (1775-1841), an amateur biologist and painter of flowers. The art is evoked by the instruments brought by Ludwig, which indicate the next stage of their work, when the plants are drawn after drying. The twins’ love of drawing carried them into adulthood, and they became amateur artists, focusing on the depiction of historical monuments.
