This drawing portrait of a young Woman from Bulgarian town Plowdiv is a part of the collection of prominent Bulgarian painters (see next and previous item numbers), it was executed by one of most important Bulgarian painter of Czech origin Jan Václav Mrkvička, also Ivan Markwitschka, in Bulgarian Иван Мърквичка, (1856 in Widim, Austria-Hungary; † May 16, 1938 in Prague).

After studying in Prague and Munich he went to Bulgaria in the year 1881. There he became the founder of the school in Sofia and was its first director from 1896 to 1909. From 1895 to 1899 he edited the magazine Iskustwo together with A. Mitow. He was a corresponding member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

In his work as a painter created landscape images, portraits of well-known people and paintings with historical themes. In particular, he also presented scenes of Bulgarian everyday life. In the year 1894 he illustrated the novel under the yoke of Ivan Wasow. He also painted icons and murals for the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia. 1900 he was also one of the creators of the coat of arms of Sofia and later of the coat of arms of Bulgaria.

Provenance: the sale of Dorotheum auction house, Praque, 24.05.2014.

Literature: General Artist´s Lexicon" by Thieme/Becker, Leipzig, 1999; Dr. P.Toman "Czech Artist lexicon", Praque,1960.

Inscription: signed and inscribed in Bulgarian: J.V.Mrkvicka, Plovdiv.

Technique: drawing, charcoal/paper, matted and framed.

Measurements: image w 4 7/8" x h 9 7/8" (12,5 x 25 cm), matted and framed w 13 5/8" x h 18 1/2" (34,5 x 47 cm).

Condition: in very good condition.