Dorotheum

Olga Wisinger-Florian also made your ranking ;)

“Rejected because we are women!" A shocked Olga Wisinger-Florian cried out about the exhibition practice at the Vienna Künstlerhaus in 1903.

The painter was born in 1844; then women were not allowed at the Academy of Art, but could only learn through private tutors. Wisinger-Florian started out as a pianist. Due to a hand condition, she had to stop a promising career, and took up painting at the age of 30.

"When I began, I had to devote myself to painting flowers. At that time, women had no access to life drawing; I would have been laughed at.” She quickly established herself as a talented painter of landscapes and flowers; one of her clients was the emperor Franz Joseph I., who bought one of her paintings in 1886.

Throughout her life, she supported female colleagues; in 1901 she founded the group “eight Artists”, with fellow painters like Marie Egner or Teresa Feodorowna Ries, who showed yearly at Art Salon Pisko.

She was friends with Bertha von Suttner and consequently involved in both the Austrian women's movement and the peace movement. Wisinger-Florian was also the president of the of the Association of Women Writers and Artists in Vienna, fighting for women’s right to show or publish their art all the way.

Sarah Bogner’s pink horses have become quite her trademark, as these lovely fantasy animals often populate her work. A classical horse painter she is not – her happy horses snuggle, smile and sometimes even smoke. It is a special, instantly recognizable world that the artist has managed to build.

All the proceeds from the Charity Auction of which Bogners “Mondsichel MMK” is part will go to Médecins sans Frontières; the works are on show from 25-30 June at Palais Schönborn-Batthyány, Renngasse 4, 1010 Wien.

Charity Auction for Médecins sans Frontières | 30 June 2026: https://www.dorotheum.com/en/a/124924/

Ripe summer fruits – wouldn’t you just love to take a bite?

These are details from works by old masters at our upcoming auction. The juicy watermelon is by the Napolitan Giuseppe Recco, the glistening peaches and grapes by Pieter Snyers from Antwerp, the luscious cherries by the French artist Antoine Monnoyer.

The appetizing strawberries and fig are German, and the overripe melon is from a French School artist – all in all the perfect backdrop for summer lunches!

Old Master Paintings | 25 June 2026: https://www.dorotheum.com/en/a/122531/