SwissArtGallery · Documented identity

Janis Ferdinands Tidemanis

Born : 1897Died : 1964Documented citizenships : Latvia

The Latvian painter Janis Ferdinands Tidemanis, born in Ventspils in 1897 and who died in Toronto in 1964, developed a body of work spanning a wide range of subjects, from portraits and still lifes to landscapes, figurative scenes, city views, markets, ports and nudes. He worked mainly in oil, pencil and charcoal, and also practised printmaking; his painting is described as expressive, characterised by a vigorous brushstroke, chiaroscuro and dark backgrounds that bring out the colour.

In 1911, he went to live with his uncle in Cleveland, where he attended public school and studied painting at the « Toos Cucsk » School of Arts with Professor Nagy. In 1917, he travelled to Italy to study painting, then joined the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp; during his studies, he returned to America during the holidays and worked as a decorator to finance his training. He completed the Academy in 1927 with a first-class diploma, continued his training at the Higher Institute of Fine Arts in Antwerp and completed his studies there in 1930.

During his studies, he regularly exhibited his work in Antwerp and Brussels; his first exhibition in Antwerp took place in 1928. In 1930, he exhibited in Antwerp, Brussels, Riga, Kaunas and Tallinn. He took part in the centenary of the retrospective exhibition of the Arts in Antwerp, inaugurated by Queen Astrid. He was awarded the decoration of Knight of the Order of Leopold II. In 1932, he represented Belgium in the painting event of the art competitions at the Los Angeles Olympic Games.

In 1935, he created two frescoes for the Brussels World’s Fair; according to the biographical source, they earned him the Grand Prix with an honorary diploma. That same year, he returned to Latvia and organised exhibitions in Riga, Liepaja, Ventspils, Jelgava and Tukums. During the evacuation of Riga in 1944, about 400 of his paintings remained in the city. On 26 December 1944, he left to seek refuge in Switzerland, then settled in Canada; he died in Toronto on 12 April 1964. Works are reported to be held in museums in Malmö, Brussels, Antwerp, Tallinn and Kaunas, as well as in several cities in Latvia. A reported estimate puts the number of paintings held by private collectors at more than 600, mainly in Belgium and Latvia.

This profile brings together identity references for Janis Ferdinands Tidemanis and paintings, drawings and works on paper documented in auction catalogues.

Documented auction references

17auction references

4auction houses

16documented results with prices

Dobiaschofsky · DognyAuction · Genève Enchères · Piguet

References include catalogue entries and available results; they do not all represent completed sales. Attributed works and special lots are excluded from the priced results.

Works recorded at auction

Photograph : Piguet · Enlarge image ↗

Piguet

Nature morte au bouquet

Oil on canvas

Original catalogue wording

Nature morte au bouquet
huile sur toile

Catalogue period : 2024-05-21 — 2024-06-05

Published result : 900 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 800–1200

Janis Ferdinands Tidemanis

Documented auction references

Works recorded at auction

Nature morte au bouquet

Flower Still Life

Lake landscape

Expressive Bergseelandschaft.

Steile Küstenlandschaft.

Weiblicher Rückenakt.

Blumenbouquet.

Prachtvolles Blumenstillleben in roter Vase.

Autumn View of the Dents du Midi.

Le déjeuner sur la terrasse

Femme au drapé rouge,

Nature morte au bouquet de fleurs

Parklandschaft mit Fontäne.

Porträt eines Knaben.

Expressive floral still life

Prachtvolles Blumenstillleben.

References excluded from statistics: attributions and special lots

Attribué à Janis Ferdinands Tidémanis — Libertines

Sources and references

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