Portrait of Louise Polis-Henrar
| Dating | 1906 |
|---|---|
| Material / technique | oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 120 x 86 cm |
| Literature | |
| Exhibitions | Aachen, Germany 1911 (March), Suermondt Museum, exhibition Limburgse Kunstkring |
| Provenance | 1935 bequest by Louise Polis-Henrar to the City of Maastricht 1935 loan from the City of Maastricht to current residence through Limburgs Geschied- en Oudheidkundig Genootschap (LGOG) |
| Current residence | Collection Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht |
| Signature | b.r. in paint: HRI GOOVAERTS |
| Headings | |
| Remarks | Louise Marie Laurence Henrar (1845-1935) was married to Laurent Polis, honorary president of the Maastricht-based Momus Society. The couple played a major role in the charity work of this association. Given the similar dimensions, this portrait is probably intended as a counterpart to the portrait of Laurent Polis painted by Goovaerts in the same year. The portraits were exhibited side by side in 1911 at the Suermondt Museum in Aachen. According to an unspecified Dutch newspaper cutting in the archive of Lily Goovaerts, the press in Aachen praised the work of Goovaerts on this exhibition: “The Aachen art critic, therefore, writes nothing but compliments for both portraits and brings out the difficulties with which the painter had to deal and that were victoriously overcome by him. They are portraits of two elderly ladies in simple black dresses: the one [probably the portrait of Louise Henrar] with a quiet, somewhat tired face, the other [possibly the portrait of Marie Muller from 1909] with a still vivid face framed with black hair; the eyes and mouths of both ladies speak of vivacity and bear witness to the certainty with which Goovaerts' brush knows how to represent the personality of his model. In Aachen, where one is very picky and demanding about painting, this appraisal is especially valuable and gives credit to the gifted artist. We are pleased that the talent of Goovaerts is not only appreciated in his home town, but also abroad.' |