This masterfully portrait of a merry cardinal was executed by very good listed Austrian genre and portrait painter Ernst Nowak (1851-1919). Nowak was a pupil of the Vienna Academy under Carl Wurzinger and August Eisenmenger. He became famous for his portraits and genre scenes with monks. From 1888 Nowak was a member of the Vienna Artists Unit.

Literature: Thieme/Becker V. 5, 1911. H.Fuchs "Lexicon of Austrian artists of 19th century", Vienna, 1975.

Inscription: signed E. Nowak upper left.

Technique: oil on canvas. Original period gold-plated frame.

Measurements: unframed w 15" x h 18 1/2" (38 x 47 cm) , framed w 22 5/8" x h 26 1/4" (57,5 x 66,5 cm).

Condition: very good.