This masterfully portrait of a lucky monk with a glass of wine was executed 1915 by very good listed Austrian genre and portrait painter Ernst Nowak (1851-1919) and was exhibited in the same year at the exhibiton of famous Viennese Art Union "Kuenstlerhaus". Nowak was a pupil of the Vienna Academy under Carl Wurzinger and August Eisenmenger. He became famous for his portraits and genre scenes with monks. From 1888 Nowak was a member of the Vienna Artists Unit.

Literature: Thieme/Becker V. 5, 1911. H.Fuchs "Lexicon of austrian artists of 19th century", Vienna, 1975.

Inscription: signed and dated E. Nowak 1915 upper right, on the back of the stretcher - original label of the art union "Kuenstlerhaus" , dated 1915 and with inventory number. (confirmed by Mr. P. Rachler ( Viennese Kuenstlerhaus archive)./P>

Technique: oil on canvas. Original period gold-plated frame.

Measurements: unframed w 11" x h 13 2/3" (28 x 34,5 cm) , framed w 21 7/8" x h 24 1/3" (55,5 x 62 cm).

Condition: very good.