A pair of family portraits depicts a Viennese civil guardist from the time of the Revolution of 1848 and his wife. On the back of paintings are indistinctly original inscriptions: Hickel 1848, Brünn ( Brno) born(born)..." The author of portraits is famous Viennese portrait painter of Greek origin Aristides Oeconomo (1821 in Vienna - 1887 in Athens).

Aristides Oeconomo graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. He then undertook a study trip to Venice, where he continued to delve into his subject at the Accademia there. From 1861 he was a member of the Wiener Künstlerhaus. He worked in Vienna until 1881 before going to Athens, where he died six years later.

Works: Portrait of Anton Freiherr Bourguignon von Baumberg, vice admiral and naval commander of the k.u.k. Navy, oil on canvas, Museum of Military History, Vienna; Portrait of Baron Janosz Bornemisza, 1846, Hungarian National Museum, Budapest; Portrait of Baroness Antónia Jósika Bornemisza, 1846, Hungarian National Museum, Budapest.

Literature: Constantin von Wurzbach: Oeconomo, Aristides. In: Biographical Encyclopedia of the Austrian Empire. Imperial-Royal Court and State Printing Office, Vienna 1870;Heinrich Fuchs: The Austrian painters of the 19th century. Vienna 1973, Volume 3.

Inscription: both signed and dated 1848, lower right, on the back of board - illegible label with inscriptions about sitters and label of a Viennese material producer.

Technique: both oils on artist cardboards, magnificent original period gold-plated frames.

Measurements: each unframed w 10 1/3" x h 12 3/8" (26,5 x 31,5 cm); framed w 14 5/8" x h 16 1/2" (37,3 x 42 cm).

Condition: in very good condition.