The painting was purchased from the private collection in Prague through auctonhouse Dorotheum, auction on 22. Mai 2010 , together with another 3 oil paintings by the same author (see item numbers 2026, 2028).This genre scene with oriental dressed elders, mourning before the gravestone was executed by the author during his travells in Caucasus . Joseph Berres - Perez (1821- 1912) was Austrian traveller, general and painter, undertook journeys to the Balkans, Russia, Cremea and Caucasus. The artist born 1821 in Lwow/ now Ukraine, as officer and painter lived in Bekesgyula/Hungary long time . 1856 he met young painter Bertanlan Székely in Brassó, 1863 lived in Bekescaba, where recieved acquaintance and later friendship in Paris with Mihaly Munkacsy . 1866 Berres took part as officer in the war again Prussia, 1867 parting from military service as general mayor for continue his study and work as painter. He studied: 1866-1869 at the Art Academy in Munich by Karl Theodor von Piloty , untertook study journeys to Russia, Cremea, Caucasus, Balcan. Since 1869 lived in Vienna, friendship with August von Pettenkofen. Since 1871- member of Viennese artist union "Kuenstlerhaus". Berres created in oil realistic and naturalistic military episodes, hunting , horse paintings , topograhical landscapes and tnographic genre paintings. His works situated in the Province Museum in Linz, in Vienna (Belvedere and Historical City Museum).

Literature: Fr.von Boetticher; . H.Fuchs "Lexicon of austrian artists of 19th century"; Thieme/Becker.

Inscription: signed with monogram and dated (18)62 and indistinctly inscribed on the gravestone (see photo).

Technique: oil on cardboard. Luxuriousy original period gold-plated frame.

Measurements: unframed w 8 4/5 " x h 5 1/3" (32,5 x 24,5 cm), framed w 16 1/5 " x h 12 3/4 " (46,5 x 38,5 cm)

Condition: in very good condition