The Louvre Museum Acquires Johann Richard Seel’s Portrait of Betty Josefine Jacobine and Friderike Luisa Bloem

We are delighted to announce that The Louvre has acquired Johann Richard Seel’s Portrait of the Bloem Sisters.   We exhibited this extraordinary 1841 portrait at TEFAF Maastricht in March 2024, where it was featured as a centerpiece of our stand devoted to the Nazarenes and other early nineteenth century German paintings.  It came as no surprise that the portrait was admired by many visitors to the fair, who were captivated by its originality.  We are beyond thrilled that it will soon be hanging at The Louvre. 

Côme Fabre, Curator of Paintings at The Louvre commented: “The painting is an outstanding example of the German fantasy in the art of portraiture, which is quite unknown in France. I noted this painting immediately catches the attention of the French audience, seduced by the magic and uncanny atmosphere of the effigy. It is all the more refreshing as we are used to The Louvre’s famous Chassériau sisters, painted during the same period.”