Cornelia Lotz in Black

Károly Lotz's "Cornelia Lotz in Black," painted in 1896, offers a glimpse into the artist's personal life and his skill as a portraitist. Lotz, a German-Hungarian painter, was known for his monumental murals and frescos, often working in the style of the Venetian master Tiepolo, but he also gained recognition for his portraits and nudes. Cornelia was one of his daughters, and it's noted that both his wife and daughters, particularly Katarina, often posed for him. This painting, created late in his career (he was 63 at the time), showcases a more intimate side of his oeuvre compared to the grand public commissions like the ceiling of the Budapest Opera or the stairways of the Hungarian Parliament Building. While many of his large-scale works were lost or destroyed, portraits like this one provide enduring examples of his talent for capturing human likeness. His dedication to his craft was recognized through his appointment as a professor at various art academies in Budapest and his honorary membership in the Academy of Pictorial Arts in Vienna.