oil on canvas, signed: K. Markó, 64 x 53,5 cm, around 1860
The art of Károly Markó Jr. was based on 17th and 18th century heroic historical and ideal landscape painting. Under the direction of Markó Jr.'s father (Károly Mark I.d) he continued his painting studies, he also visited Rome (1843) and Vienna (1851-54) to get inspiration for his painting. Among his paintings in a classicist style and idyllic atmosphere, among his paintings we find works that deal with biblical, mythological themes, but he also loved to paint the landscape, in which he placed small staff-like figures. On the Little Girl with her puppy, we see a simple, casual yet charming scene: a young girl dressed in a white festive dress as she “smelled” flowers in her basket with her puppy. Due to both the figure of a large girl placed at the center of the composition and the “magnified” landscape, Károly Markó Jr.'s oil canvas is an unusual work, different in character and choice of subject. The ruddy-faced girl, wearing a clean, snow-white dress, stands before us as a “symbol” of innocence, her attention visibly captivated by her faithful dog, whom she encourages to play.