OLDRICH FARSKY ARTIST PAINTINGS AND THE CONFUSION
This piece is meant to clear up an issue with a listed artist whose name should be Oldrich Farsky. Farsky was a Czech immigrant to the United States who was born in 1860 and died July 3, 1939. My research has led me to the conclusion that all paintings that are signed "O. Farsky" were done by Oldrich. What is the confusion? I believe that Art books, reference sites, auction houses and art galleries have been providing and working from information that has been incorrect for decades. Almost all works by "O. Farsky" have been attributed to the following names:
Aldrich Otto Farsky
Oldrich Otto Farsky
Otto A. Farsky
Otto Farsky
Otto Oldrich Farsky
Oldrich Oscar Farsky
A. Farsky
Regardless of the name associated with the painting, everyone lists his birth as 1895 and death as 1968. Those dates match up to Aldrich Farsky who was Oldrich's son. There is not one bit of evidence other than a mention in a book on California Artists that Aldrich was even an artist. So, it is my belief that the BIO has been wrong for some time. Here is the correct BIO and my evidence.
Oldrich Farsky (b 1860 (Serbian Soil) d 7/3/1939)
c 1877-1879 Studied at the Art School in Prague, Bohemia under Director Von Svarts Prof Brozik, Prof E. Rone.
1880's Had a studio in Carlsbad, Bohemia and traveled and painted in Italy, France and Holland
1887 A 1920 Newspaper article states that Oldrich has been in America since this year.
1890 Dated painting called "The Duck Pond" exists as earliest example of signed "O.Farsky" work I've found. This is 5 years before Aldrich was born.
1893 Oldrich moves to Chicago, Ill during the time of The World's Fair.
1894 Finished painting of Gen William T Sherman wearing his G.A.R. uniform. Possibly the last portrait of Sherman. In 1978, this painting was owned by The State Historical Society of Colorado.
1897 Oldrich has a painting entitled "The Medicine Gatherer" displayed at J.G. Moulton Gallery in Chicago (The Inter Ocean, 8/29/97) Oldrich contributes to an Art Exhibition in Lincoln, Nebraska with "Cardinal Gathering Flowers" in which other Chicago artists also participate.
1900 Oldrich appears in U.S. Census from Cook County (Chicago) His son, Aldrich is listed as being 5 years old.
1904-1905 Oldrich has an ad in publication called "The Reform Advocate". Oldrich is listed in the Chicago Blue Book Directory as being an artist with a business advertisement "Fine Oil Paintings and Water Colors" The business was located at 205 E 35th St. nr Grand Blvd Chicago. Oldrich is mentioned in a publication called "Charities: A Review of Local and General Philantrophy (July 1, 1905) in an article titled: "The Culture Which the Slav Offers America" Oldrich is mentioned as providing art work in an Exhibition held in Cleveland by The Slavic Alliance of Cleveland. It is heralded as the 1st Slavic Exhibition of it's kind in America with 162 original paintings and pieces of sculpture by Bohemian, Slovak and Polish artists.
1906 Oldrich is said to have visited the Grand Traverse area to paint. He liked the area so much he purchased a home and painted quite a number of area scenes.
1908 Oldrich is mentioned as being a special guest at a Grand Traverse Area, MI event that was attended by Bohemians (Czechs). He is also listed as writing an article in a Czech paper called "Amerikan Kalander" called "A Story of Traverse City, Michigan and Some of the Early Settlers" It mentions that the article has examples of his paintings.
1910 Oldrich is listed in the U.S. Census as being from Grand Traverse, MI. He is reported to have moved back to the Chicago Area from Michigan.
1913 Oldrich work exhibited at Gerhard Sisters Art Shop in St. Louis, MO.
1914 Oldrich participated in an art exhibit at Dvorak Park in the Chicago Park District.
1916 Oldrich submits a sketch for a bid on decorative work to be done on the auditorium and vestibule of The Harrison Technical High School in Chicago, Ill. His sketch is voted most artistic and beautiful, but, is not accepted by the school board due to some technicality. However, his design was used in another part of the School.
1918 Oldrich is mentioned as being a member of The Czech Artists Club (Chicago) Had a painting of a Michigan Landscape that was dated 1918. This possibly solidifies his already strong Michigan connection.
1919 An Oldrich landscape "The Marsh" said to be valued at $500 is donated to the Decatur Institute of Civic Arts in Decatur, Ill. The work is donated by James M Cowan who stated that he owned 9 other Farskys. Many Chicago area art collectors are said to own his works.
1920 Oldrich is listed in the U.S. Census as being from Cook County, Ill (Chicago)
He is also mentioned in a book "The Czechs in America: A Study of their National, Cultural, Political, Social, Economic and Religious Life" by Thomas Capek. He is mentioned as a Czech Immigrant Artist of note in Chicago. His son, Aldrich would not have been considered an Immigrant as he was born in the United States in Chicago. Up to 27 of Farsky's paintings are exhibited at Haines and Essick Galleries in Decatur, Ill ranging from $30-$400.
1922 Oldrich exhibits at the Aurora Public Library in Illinois from October 20-30. The brochure states that he traveled from America's east coast to the mountains of Colorado and into Canada
1924 Oldrich presents a painting of either himself or of Professor Antonin Sterba (Art Institute of Chicago,American Academy of Art in Chicago)(1875-1963)to Sterba. Sterba was a fellow Czech who lived in Chicago and also in Pasadena,CA in 1928, the last year that Oldrich is believed to have been in CA. Their relationship appears to date back to at least 1905, when they both had paintings exhibited in a Cleveland Exhibition and both were likely members of the Czech Art Club together.
1925-1928 Aldrich is listed in a book as being an artist who was in Los Angeles, Ca during this time. However, the works signed "O. Farsky" from this time period, which would be Californian landscapes, have what appear to be the same signature as the works from the obviously earlier periods (1890-1920)
1930 Oldrich is listed in the U.S. Census as being from Lincoln, MI, Berrien County, MI
July 3, 1939 Oldrich passes away in Lincoln, MI
So, in conclusion, we know 2 things for sure. Oldrich Farsky was an artist of some note in the Czech community and had his own store or studio in Carlsbad, Bohemia and Chicago, Ill. We also know that one of his son's names was Aldrich whose birth and death dates match those given by all the resource books, auction houses and art galleries (Except Skinner's, who I think may have also been able to put together that an art work done in 1890 or 1900 was not done by someone born in 1895) Somewhere along the line in history, someone researched a painting signed "O. Farsky" and came to the wrong conclusion as to which family member was the artist. I am not an art expert in the least, but, of the 30 or so examples of signed "O. Farsky" works that I have seen, I would say that all of them were done prior to 1940.
Current information is incorrect and has never been corrected. People have been purchasing works either attributed to the wrong person or with the wrong set of birth and death dates. If my research is correct, Davenport's and all other artist references should be updated with the correct Farsky and the other Farsky names removed.
A gentleman claiming to be the Great Grandson of Oldrich Farsky has provided more information on the comment section of this blog.
Aldrich Otto Farsky
Oldrich Otto Farsky
Otto A. Farsky
Otto Farsky
Otto Oldrich Farsky
Oldrich Oscar Farsky
A. Farsky
Regardless of the name associated with the painting, everyone lists his birth as 1895 and death as 1968. Those dates match up to Aldrich Farsky who was Oldrich's son. There is not one bit of evidence other than a mention in a book on California Artists that Aldrich was even an artist. So, it is my belief that the BIO has been wrong for some time. Here is the correct BIO and my evidence.
Oldrich Farsky (b 1860 (Serbian Soil) d 7/3/1939)
c 1877-1879 Studied at the Art School in Prague, Bohemia under Director Von Svarts Prof Brozik, Prof E. Rone.
1880's Had a studio in Carlsbad, Bohemia and traveled and painted in Italy, France and Holland
1887 A 1920 Newspaper article states that Oldrich has been in America since this year.
1890 Dated painting called "The Duck Pond" exists as earliest example of signed "O.Farsky" work I've found. This is 5 years before Aldrich was born.
1893 Oldrich moves to Chicago, Ill during the time of The World's Fair.
1894 Finished painting of Gen William T Sherman wearing his G.A.R. uniform. Possibly the last portrait of Sherman. In 1978, this painting was owned by The State Historical Society of Colorado.
1897 Oldrich has a painting entitled "The Medicine Gatherer" displayed at J.G. Moulton Gallery in Chicago (The Inter Ocean, 8/29/97) Oldrich contributes to an Art Exhibition in Lincoln, Nebraska with "Cardinal Gathering Flowers" in which other Chicago artists also participate.
1900 Oldrich appears in U.S. Census from Cook County (Chicago) His son, Aldrich is listed as being 5 years old.
1904-1905 Oldrich has an ad in publication called "The Reform Advocate". Oldrich is listed in the Chicago Blue Book Directory as being an artist with a business advertisement "Fine Oil Paintings and Water Colors" The business was located at 205 E 35th St. nr Grand Blvd Chicago. Oldrich is mentioned in a publication called "Charities: A Review of Local and General Philantrophy (July 1, 1905) in an article titled: "The Culture Which the Slav Offers America" Oldrich is mentioned as providing art work in an Exhibition held in Cleveland by The Slavic Alliance of Cleveland. It is heralded as the 1st Slavic Exhibition of it's kind in America with 162 original paintings and pieces of sculpture by Bohemian, Slovak and Polish artists.
1906 Oldrich is said to have visited the Grand Traverse area to paint. He liked the area so much he purchased a home and painted quite a number of area scenes.
1908 Oldrich is mentioned as being a special guest at a Grand Traverse Area, MI event that was attended by Bohemians (Czechs). He is also listed as writing an article in a Czech paper called "Amerikan Kalander" called "A Story of Traverse City, Michigan and Some of the Early Settlers" It mentions that the article has examples of his paintings.
1910 Oldrich is listed in the U.S. Census as being from Grand Traverse, MI. He is reported to have moved back to the Chicago Area from Michigan.
1913 Oldrich work exhibited at Gerhard Sisters Art Shop in St. Louis, MO.
1914 Oldrich participated in an art exhibit at Dvorak Park in the Chicago Park District.
1916 Oldrich submits a sketch for a bid on decorative work to be done on the auditorium and vestibule of The Harrison Technical High School in Chicago, Ill. His sketch is voted most artistic and beautiful, but, is not accepted by the school board due to some technicality. However, his design was used in another part of the School.
1918 Oldrich is mentioned as being a member of The Czech Artists Club (Chicago) Had a painting of a Michigan Landscape that was dated 1918. This possibly solidifies his already strong Michigan connection.
1919 An Oldrich landscape "The Marsh" said to be valued at $500 is donated to the Decatur Institute of Civic Arts in Decatur, Ill. The work is donated by James M Cowan who stated that he owned 9 other Farskys. Many Chicago area art collectors are said to own his works.
1920 Oldrich is listed in the U.S. Census as being from Cook County, Ill (Chicago)
He is also mentioned in a book "The Czechs in America: A Study of their National, Cultural, Political, Social, Economic and Religious Life" by Thomas Capek. He is mentioned as a Czech Immigrant Artist of note in Chicago. His son, Aldrich would not have been considered an Immigrant as he was born in the United States in Chicago. Up to 27 of Farsky's paintings are exhibited at Haines and Essick Galleries in Decatur, Ill ranging from $30-$400.
1922 Oldrich exhibits at the Aurora Public Library in Illinois from October 20-30. The brochure states that he traveled from America's east coast to the mountains of Colorado and into Canada
1924 Oldrich presents a painting of either himself or of Professor Antonin Sterba (Art Institute of Chicago,American Academy of Art in Chicago)(1875-1963)to Sterba. Sterba was a fellow Czech who lived in Chicago and also in Pasadena,CA in 1928, the last year that Oldrich is believed to have been in CA. Their relationship appears to date back to at least 1905, when they both had paintings exhibited in a Cleveland Exhibition and both were likely members of the Czech Art Club together.
1925-1928 Aldrich is listed in a book as being an artist who was in Los Angeles, Ca during this time. However, the works signed "O. Farsky" from this time period, which would be Californian landscapes, have what appear to be the same signature as the works from the obviously earlier periods (1890-1920)
1930 Oldrich is listed in the U.S. Census as being from Lincoln, MI, Berrien County, MI
July 3, 1939 Oldrich passes away in Lincoln, MI
So, in conclusion, we know 2 things for sure. Oldrich Farsky was an artist of some note in the Czech community and had his own store or studio in Carlsbad, Bohemia and Chicago, Ill. We also know that one of his son's names was Aldrich whose birth and death dates match those given by all the resource books, auction houses and art galleries (Except Skinner's, who I think may have also been able to put together that an art work done in 1890 or 1900 was not done by someone born in 1895) Somewhere along the line in history, someone researched a painting signed "O. Farsky" and came to the wrong conclusion as to which family member was the artist. I am not an art expert in the least, but, of the 30 or so examples of signed "O. Farsky" works that I have seen, I would say that all of them were done prior to 1940.
Current information is incorrect and has never been corrected. People have been purchasing works either attributed to the wrong person or with the wrong set of birth and death dates. If my research is correct, Davenport's and all other artist references should be updated with the correct Farsky and the other Farsky names removed.
A gentleman claiming to be the Great Grandson of Oldrich Farsky has provided more information on the comment section of this blog.
Comments
I came across this comment on May 26, 2009.
I happen to be a great grandson of Oldrich Farsky, and I believe your observations are correct. He did have a son with a similar name who did allegedly dabble in paintings of religious clerics and a couple of other subjects (two of which my cousin owns). All of the other portraiture and landscapes of the Santa Monica area, etc. should be attributed to the elder Oldrich.
I have seen a copy of my grandfather's privately placed advertisement in a Chicago circular around 1918-19 offering O. Farsky paintings for sale, staing that everyone should want "a Farsky". The younger Farsky even if he tried painting would not have been established enough to warrant attention. And you are right to point out that the themes and look and feel are older than the mid-20th century.
The elder Farsky's most prominent legacy in Chicago is a portrait, probably the last, of Genl. Wm. T. Sherman in retirement, wearing his G.A.R. uniform. Interestingly, it was not completed until 1894, about 3 years after Sherman's death. That is probably why the lower sections with sash and sword appear more fanciful than the head and shoulders likeness with the fierce eyes and demeanor still amazingly intact.
I had not known about the Michigan connection, but then he did get around in a time when fewer did.
krvince
The painting is signed in the lower left corner, in red ( O'Farsky) The subject matter is of a young child laying on a quilt with a rabbit. It appears to be dated around the time of the 1880's - Maybe his son?? - Can anyone help? - she is trying to sell painting
Does anyone have any additional information how to authenticate it?
IAN
thank you!
Susan Shockley
Curator
Parthenon Museum
susan.shockley@nashville.gov
As an aside, my family came from Serbia in the 1880s. They settled in Chicago and the surrounding area. And my great aunt, Mary Sherman (nee Ranich) was married to one of William T. Sherman's relatives. Just an interesting grouping of coincidences.
Thank you for this information!
Susan Billipp
I came across your bio for Oldrich Farsky while researching my great-grandfather John Kralovec in Chicago. You did a heck of a job; the name variation is very confusing, but your research helped me find a "smoking gun" regarding one of his children. One correction to your research: There was no such person as Aldrich Farsky. His youngest son's name was Oldrich Farsky Jr. (check the census records for the time, I believe 1900 and 1910). But krvince's comments about his youngest son dabbling in art, made me think that perhaps Jr changed his name after high school because of being in his father's famous shadow. The WWI draft card for Edward A. Farsky is a match for the DOB and address for Oldrich JR. He married Lillian Kralovec (the daughter of my GGF's second marriage), and died in Crystal Lake IL in 1973.
I found it interesting that a nearly identical pose was shown in a painting attrinuted to O. Farsky on the Invaluable auction site - the woman was dressed differently, but the subject and background were very similar otherwise.
I would be interested in connecting with others who have collected his paintings or who could offer additional background information.