Lorenz Clasen - Pair Portraits Bloch Family

This distinguished pair of German portraits, painted by Lorenz Clasen around 1850-1860, depicts the Bloch couple, part of the prosperous Jewish bourgeoisie of mid-19th-century Frankfurt am Main. The gentleman is portrayed in a dark three-piece suit with a crisp white shirt and broad cravat, his neatly groomed beard and side-parted hairstyle reflecting the fashion of the 1850s. His pose conveys both dignity and refinement, emblematic of the Biedermeier tradition moving into early Realism.

The lady appears in a black gown with delicate lace details, her center-parted hairstyle echoing contemporary trends. A striking red flower pinned near her heart serves as both a decorative accent and a symbolic reference to love, fidelity, and vitality—adding a personal and intimate note to the portrait.

Together, the pair embodies the values of German bourgeois society in the mid-19th century, where portraiture was both a record of personal identity and a statement of social standing. The restrained backgrounds focus attention on the sitters’ presence, while the meticulous detail highlights the elegance and cultural refinement of the period.

These signed portraits capture a pivotal moment in German-Jewish social history, representing the emerging merchant class's prosperity and integration into German society. The formal presentation, elegant frames, and quality of execution reflect the subjects' elevated social status and the artistic standards of the period.

One typewritten label on the reverse provides valuable provenance documentation, specifically noting the Frankfurt am Main jewish origins of the Bloch family, adding significant historical and cultural context to these already important works.

Lorenz Clasen was a German history painter and author born on December 14, 1812, in Düsseldorf and died on May 31, 1899, in Leipzig. Initially studying law at the University of Bonn at his father's request, he transferred to the prestigious Kunstakademie Düsseldorf in 1829, where he trained under Rudolf Wiegmann.

Clasen became associated with the renowned Düsseldorf School, beginning with religious subjects before expanding into history painting and portraiture. His work demonstrates exceptional skill in capturing both social status and personal character, particularly evident in his portraits of the German-Jewish bourgeoisie during the mid-19th century's social transformation.

Clasen is best known for "Germania auf der Wacht am Rhein" (Germania at Watch on the Rhine), housed in Krefeld's town hall. This patriotic painting, inspired by the popular song "Die Wacht am Rhein," depicts Germania standing guard over the Rhine River and became one of Germany's most recognizable images of national identity.

Beyond painting, Clasen worked as an art critic, contributing to 19th-century German artistic discourse. His career spanned crucial decades of German history, documenting the nation's transformation from separate states to unified country. His portraits serve as valuable historical records of the emerging middle class and the integration of Jewish families into German society.

Clasen's work represents the transition from romantic idealism to early realism in German art, combining meticulous Düsseldorf School technique with deep cultural understanding.

Artist: Lorenz Clasen (1812-1899).
Signed in the lower left and right.
Medium: Oil on canvas.
Condition: Very good condition.
Dimensions: 44 x 39 cm. / 17 ¼ x 15 ½ in.
Frame: 61 x 56 cm. / 24 x 22 in. Very good condition.