Preliminary painting - Portrait of a lady on a blue sofa - Eugen Spiro (1874-1972) 1902 - 16¼" x 13"

This preliminary painting by Eugen Spiro (1874-1972) or Eugene Spiro is dated 1902. It inspired the paintng Schwester des Künstlers (artist's sister) Baladine Klossowska. Interestingly Baladine Klossowska was married in the same year, 1902 to the painter and art historian Erich Klossowski. This painting has been held in a private collection for over fifty years. The final painting fetched USD 37,000 at Auction through Christies in 2007. A certificate of authenticity is included.

From Wikipedia:

About Eugen Spiro -

Eugene Spiro, born Eugen Spiro was a German and American painter. He was born to a Jewish family in Breslau. In 1904 Spiro was briefly married to the famous actress Tilla Durieux, who later married the important art dealer Paul Cassirer. His younger sister was the painter Baladine Klossowska. Wikipedia Born: April 18, 1874, Wrocław, Poland Died: September 26, 1972, New York, New York, United States Artworks: Landscape with dunes, Bildnis des Dr. Meier-Graefe, MORE Siblings: Baladine Klossowska Spouse: Tilla Durieux (m. 1904–1906) On view: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

About Baladine Klossowska -

Baladine Klossowska or Kłossowska was a German painter. Originating from an artistic Jewish family with roots in Lithuania, she moved from Breslau, Germany to Paris, France, at the turn of the 20th century, where she was a vivid and active participant in the explosion of artistic experiment then active in the city. Wikipedia Born: October 21, 1886, Wrocław, Poland Died: September 11, 1969, Paris Spouse: Erich Klossowski (m. ?–1917) Children: Pierre Klossowski, Balthus Grandchildren: Thaddeus Klossowski, Harumi Klossowska de Rola, Stanislas Klossowski de Rola, Fumio Klossowska Parents: Abraham Beer Spiro Siblings: Eugene Spiro