Biography: Eugene de Blaas was born July 24,1843 at Albano, near Rome to Austrian parents. His father, Karl (1815 1894),
teacher to him and his brother Julius (b.1845) became Professor at the Academy in Vienna and Venice. It was in Venice
that Eugene de Blaas established himself as the leading painter of Venetian genre. Venice had been an essential stop on
the Grand Tour since the early eighteenth century.The affluent Venetian visitor wanted human interest, a sense of life by the
canals and campos of the city, as a result of whicha school of artists developed to supply this market. Eugene de Blaas
depicted the life of Venetian fisherfolk, gondoliers andVenetian beauties.
The titles of his paintings; "The Love Letter", "Stolen Kiss", "The Suitor", with his highly polished technique, the depiction
of embroidered lace, auburn hair and a coquettish glance, ensured that his paintings were of universal appeal. Between
1875 and 1891 de Blaas exhibited twelve works at the Royal Academy, London. By 1885 the art dealer Arthur Tooth &
Son in London represented him before moving to his rival T. Maclean from 1886, also in London, an indication of the
artist's popularity in Britain.
