This original Art Noveau  three-part screen or paravane with hand painted floral motives was created ca. in 1890-s slightly in Asian style (frame made of bamboo). The manner of flower paintings is very close to the floral screen paintings by Austrian painter Rudolf Ribarz (1848 Vienna - 1904 Vienna). We can assume that it was created by this artist during his life in Paris from 1876 to 1892.

Rudolf Ribarz is one of the most important Austrian Impressionism painters of the 19th century. He was born in 1848 in Vienna. During his training as a merchant - he should take over the running of his parents - he discovered his passion for painting and began secretly to take painting lessons at Josef Holzer. From 1864, he studied at the Viennese Academy of Fine Arts under Albert Zimmermann. In 1868 he became a member of Vienna´s Kunstlerhaus (Art House). When he attended the first international art exhibition in Munich in 1868, he was particularly impressed by the French painters, so he transferred his residence to Paris. The art dealer Charles Sedelmayer gave him access to the artists of the Barbizon school. In Paris he met Daubigny, Dupre and Corot. During this period he visited Barbizon, Normandie and travelled to Holland. Ribarz made screens with flowery and landscape motives, which were modelled for the Austrian Secession applied art. For comparison with our painting see additional images of famous  floral paintings by Ribarz. Despite his long absence of 16 years it offered him in 1892 a professorship at the Vienna School of Arts and crafts. The artist followed this activity up to the year 1899, then he was forced to withdraw due to a growing private. He died in Vienna in 1904.

Literature: "Austrian Artists Dictionary "by Heinrich Fuchs, Vienna 1974 ;Thieme/Becker "Lexicon of artists from antique to contemporary", Leipzig, 1999; in on-line: wikipedia.

Inscription: unsigned.

Technique: all 3 paintings - oils on canvases, the backside cover - silk, paravan frame- bamboo.

Measurements: total w 63 3/8" x h 70 1/2" (161 x 179 cm), middle part w 20" x h 70 1/2" (51 x 179 cm) , left and right parts : w 18 7/8" x h 68 1/2" (48 x 174 cm), each canvas (image) : 16 3/4" x 53 1/2" (42,5 x 136 cm)

Condition: screen and oil paintings are in very good condition.