VLADIMIR IVANOVICH HAU (1816 – 1895) Russian woman with a basket of apples

signed and dated ‘W. Hau 1868’ (lower right) watercolour on paper 37 x 27 cm Executed in 1868 Vladimir Hau (Gau) was a portrait painter born in Revel (the Russian Empire), son of painter Johann Hau who was his first drawing teacher. Studied with the court painter K. von Kügelgen, he also visited the studio of the Professor of the Imperial Academy of arts, Alexander Sauerweid. In 1836, he received a Grand Silver Medal and the title of class artist and left the Academy of fine arts. In 1838-1840 he lived and worked in Germany and Italy where he completed his artistic education. In 1840, he returned to Russia and was appointed court painter for Emperor Nikolai I. For thirty years he fulfilled the orders of the court and gave drawing lessons to the members of the imperial family. In 1849, for the portraits of Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna with her children and wife of the Duke Maximilian of Leuchtenberg, Hau received the title of academician watercolor painting. Hau was a leading master of watercolour portrait for three decades.